Feb 21 - Province puts housing first in throne speech

Good morning !

The provincial government has announced its agenda for the next several months, and housing is its top priority.

Notably absent from yesterday’s throne speech was any plan on how to collaborate with municipalities to help people on the street.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

BC government’s throne speech promises to help homebuyers and renters

Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin read the throne speech, providing the province’s pathway for the next nine months before the legislature breaks for a fall election. Front and centre was housing, something the NDP promised to make more available and affordable, through its BC Builds program—which earlier in the day received a $2B boost from the feds.

“These homes will also be built faster, with more efficient provincial and local government approvals,” Austin told the packed legislature. “And they will be income-tested, designed for the middle-class people who keep our communities working.” 

Austin said new laws restricting short-term rentals had resulted in a record-setting 19K new rental homes registered last year—a 30% increase from the year before. “Taken together, experts predict these changes will deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes in the next 10 years,” she said, adding that renters would get new protection “from bad-faith evictions.”

Austin said under the provincial government’s stewardship, some 74K jobs—mostly in the private sector—were created last year, that 700 new doctors have come to BC in the last year—and that the government intends to build on both.

Delivered two days ahead of tomorrow’s provincial budget, the throne speech voiced the NDP government’s pledge to protect the province from climate emergencies, to clamp down on big-industry pollution, and to legislate in cases of sextortion, such as the one that led to the death of 15-year-old Amanda Todd in 2012.

Watch the full speech here. 
Read our full story on yesterday’s throne speech here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

BC Hydro Victoria to Esquimalt cable replacement project. [Open House]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Tombo is finally open in Victoria

Having announced its planned opening back in October, Tombo—a farm-to-table, from-scratch restaurant led by an award-winning Australian chef—has finally opened its doors in downtown Victoria. Split into two separate parts, the new space on Yates includes Tombo To Go, an open-concept cafe offering baked goods (such as their croissant cubes), and a larger dine-in space offering a lunch and dinner service.

Tom Moore made his name in the Victoria food scene as one of the co-founders of the iconic Crust Bakery and he’s hoping his new venture will equally wow Victorians, with a promise to “underpromise and over-deliver” on the quality of Tombo’s from-scratch creations. 

Read more from Tasting Vic to find out what you can expect from Tombo.

SPONSORED BY UVIC CONTINUING STUDIES

Crisis management is everyone’s business

“Managing crisis is no longer just the domain of corporate communicators. Today’s landscape requires the whole business to commit to creating a culture of resilience,” says Hugh Taggart, global crisis chair at Edelman.

Dealing with a crisis in today’s business landscape has increased in importance over the past five years, according to the 2022 Connected Crisis study from Edelman. For chief communication and marketing officers, crisis management is the fastest-growing area of responsibility.

In the face of challenges like cybersecurity threats, climate change, or equality issues, industry research shows that every business must be prepared to handle the unexpected.

The good news? You can improve your skills with courses or programs in crisis communication that focus on strategies, leadership, and identifying risks to ensure business continuity.

What do you want to prioritize this year? Explore our professional development opportunities.

⭐️ Capital Picks

✨ Check out the light show installations that were in Market Square for Winter Arts Fest. [Video] 

🖥️ What the heck is quantum computing? A UVic prof explains in the latest Cafe Scientifique session.

🥐 Mmm, miso leek Danish at Goodside Pastry House—but only during Feb. [Photo]. Capital Daily profiled Goodside last spring.

😊 Now hiring! Membership and operations coordinator at The Narwhal.

🗞️ In Other News

Former officers say VicPD is making constable the ‘fall guy’
A $30M drug case fell apart after officers misled the Crown about the involvement of Robb Ferris, an officer who was under a corruption investigation. How that happened is now being investigated by BC’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner. Now, two retired officers and a former police board member say the one officer being investigated, Kim Taylor, “is being forced to eat this” while others avoid scrutiny. [CTV]

Man’s rescue from Cowichan wild a real Family Day celebration
Owen Weld, 19, was lost in the woods for four days, so when his mom got a text message from him Sunday, saying he was OK, there was relief and joy. Injured and concussed after his SUV crashed off the road, he survived on creek water and slept in his truck at night. [CHEK]

Second wolf dog may be running around Coombs
WD-40 remains at large amid allegations that he bit two pet dogs, though one woman is having some success drawing him in with food. But some locals now say they saw a similar canine with a darker coat. [Times Colonist]

Local rugby star headlines Vancouver international series
Victoria-raised national rugby 15s team captain Sophie de Goede makes her return to 7s at this week's HSBC SVNS tourney. Also on Canada's teams are locally raised Caroline Crossley, Matt Percillier, and Jack Carson; UVic products Carissa Norton and Casey Scurfield; and longtime members of Langford's national program such as Charity Williams.

SPONSORED BY SOUTH ISLAND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP

Making Collaboration Work for Greater Victoria

Collaboration can be complicated in Greater Victoria. However, collaborations across municipalities thrived at Local Leadership Day, where regional leaders gathered to explore economic solutions.

Join Rising Economy podcast guests Steve Duck, Sidney councillor, and Dallas Gislason, of the South Island Prosperity Partnership to examine how collaboration benefits the region.

Listen here.

🗓️ Things to do

🎶 Alan Doyle. The Canadian musician and former Great Big Sea frontman will perform his solo work with his Beautiful Beautiful Band. Tomorrow. McPherson Playhouse. 8pm. [Info] 

📖 Author and poet Wayde Compton and musician Caleb Hart help celebrate Black History Month. St. Ann’s Academy Auditorium. Tomorrow. 6-9pm. Doors at 5:30pm. [Info]

🌲"You simply must see this play." The Belfry Theatre's production of As Above is on now until March 3. Tickets & Information.*

🎵 Royal Tusk & BRKN LOVE. The Edmonton rockers are on their Northern Light tour. Tonight. Capital Ballroom. 8pm. [Info] 

🎹 Louise Rose. Back with her “Alone Together” series, the Pennsylvanian-born Victorian will perform solo jazz vocals and piano. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

⚽ Cavalry FC vs. Orlando City in Concacaf Champions Cup Round 1. Tonight. Starlight Stadium. 7pm. [Info] 

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: Our stories of Island families; Langford budget; Police scandal update; Pickleball vs. roller derby resolved. [Feb. 19]

Tuesday’s headlines: BC Ferries footage on Microsoft Windows; BC wine industry projects tough season, shortages; UVic Vikes No. 1 in men’s basketball. [Feb. 20]  

Salt Spring’s first schoolteacher: [Capital Daily] 

Talk about getting your ducks in a row in Nanaimo waters. [Video]

Canada tax season is now underway. [Info]

Lunar New Year highlights from Chinatown celebration.

Kelowna crane collapse: RCMP recommends negligence charges in deadly 2021 disaster. [Castanet]

That’s it!

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