Advocacy

The Vancouver BIA Partnership actively advocates in collaboration with business stakeholders to support local businesses and communities. Our advocacy includes safety for businesses and retail neighborhoods, commercial property tax relief, and post-pandemic economic recovery.

We greatly appreciate the assistance and collaboration with all levels of government. In addition to municipal advocacy, we also advocate through BIABC, representing over 60 BIAs across the province, for support at the provincial level and beyond.

2025 STOREFRONTS REPORT PRESENTED TO COUNCIL

The City of Vancouver has released its 2025 Storefronts Report, which provides a snapshot of ground-floor commercial activity across nearly 9,700 storefronts. The report shows a modest increase in vacancy to 10.2%, with some areas—such as Hastings Crossing, Strathcona, and Chinatown—experiencing improvement, while others, including parts of downtown, continue to face challenges. Encouragingly, independent businesses still make up over 75% of storefronts, and the number of openings has outpaced closures for the fourth consecutive year. The City also outlined its ongoing efforts to support business recovery, including permitting streamlining, small business grants, and place-based initiatives like the Gastown Summer Pilot and Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan. A follow-up report is expected in mid-2026. For more information, please click here.

SAFETY FOR BUSINESSES AND RETAIL NEIGHBOURHOODS

BIAs are working diligently to support small businesses facing safety and security challenges. Recently, the Province announced changes to the Securing Small Business Rebate Program, which will provide a smoother and faster application process to help businesses access funding to offset the costs to repair and prevent vandalism. BIABC advocated for this funding and program improvements, and businesses can apply through the BC Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please click here.

BIABC SEEKS UPDATE ON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TARIFF RESPONSE

The Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC), representing over 55,000 small and medium-sized businesses across 80+ districts, is calling on the provincial government to respond to its formal request for updates on the province’s strategy addressing the threat of U.S. tariffs.

Nearly a month after sending a letter to Minister Ravi Kahlon, BIABC has yet to receive a response. The letter reiterated key recommendations such as strengthening the Buy BC program, removing interprovincial trade barriers, and improving access to capital and markets for small businesses.

BIABC is seeking a public update on the government’s response, including specific actions, stakeholder engagement, and the removal of the Bill 7 sunset clause. Executive Director Jeremy Heighton emphasized the need for collaboration, stating that small businesses are on the frontlines of economic disruption and ready to be part of the solution.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Commercial property taxes are extremely inequitable and unsustainable for both business owners, and property owners that provide a home for businesses.

At a municipal level, there is the unfair burden between commercial and residential taxes (4:1). The commercial sector is much smaller than the residential sector, consumes less services, and pays much higher taxes.

At a provincial level, commercial properties are assessed for their development potential rather than their existing use. This assessment policy creates an exorbitant "air tax" that is applied to the property. Furthermore, the "air tax" rate is the higher commercial tax rate, even though a future development is likely to be residential (eg. a mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and residential floors above).

We are grateful to the City of Vancouver for implementing the Property Development Tax Relief program, which provides tax relief for various impacted properties.

Please visit our commercial tax advocacy page to learn more about the issues, our advocacy efforts, and relief measures.

PANDEMIC AND POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMIC RECOVERY ADVOCACY

The following links include advocacy letters submitted to all levels of government during the pandemic, and post-pandemic, to address key issues and advocate for measures of support for businesses and retail neighbourhoods.

The Vancouver BIA partnership, representing 22 BIAs across the city, have requested immediate relief for businesses and a municipal recovery strategy, and we are being heard. Requests are being implemented, including deferral of property taxes and other fees. (March 17)
Vancouver BIA Partnership follow-up letter for measures to support small businesses in the near and long-term, noting priority issues and proposed solutions. (March 31)
Vancouver BIA Partnership letter for supportive measures and policies for Vancouver’s retail sector. (May 13)
Vancouver BIA Partnership letter regarding BIAs and City to work together to identify the needs and opportunities within business areas for public space interventions to expand and support commercial activity, and enhance the comfort and safety of customers. (May 13)
BIABC letter to Premier Horgan with 8 key requests for small business support. (March 27)
BIABC letter to Minister Mike Farnworth advocating for safety and security measures for small businesses and law enforcement. (March 31)
BIABC letter to provincial ministers advocating for 4 key areas of support, including commercial rent relief, financial aid and not debt deferral, technology development funding, and involvement in the economic recovery task force. (April 20)
Vancouver BIA Partnership letter sent to provincial and federal ministers regarding our recommendations for the financial assistance programs. (June 1)
- Key points include: introducing mechanism to allow tenants to directly access funding via CECRA; increase loan/grant amounts for financial assistance programs, including forgivable portion of CEBA (50%); decrease the eligibility thresholds to maximize number of businesses that can access funding (70% too high for CECRA); expand the timeframe for all funding programs past June.
Vancouver BIA Partnership letter sent to the Province and Mayor's office regarding the Public Health Order on September 8th, 2020. (September 11)