Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Gavin Dew, Official Opposition Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation, has released the following statement regarding the January 31, 2025 expiration of the Securing Small Business Rebate program:   “The Securing Small Business Rebate program was a half-baked PR stunt from day one—big promises, no plan, zero delivery. It took way too long to roll out, and even then, it was poorly promoted and clearly designed by a government that has no idea how business works."   “Small business owners across BC are telling us the same thing: they didn’t even know this program existed, and if they did the criteria were so onerous that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. That’s not a support plan—that’s a government playing hide-and-seek with funds that were supposed to help struggling entrepreneurs.”   “This government has perfected the art of taxing small businesses to death, tossing them breadcrumbs, and then demanding a standing ovation under the threat of retribution. ...

The BC Conservatives have called on the BC NDP to come clean about what officials knew in the lead up to Small Business BC declaring bankruptcy. In a letter to Premier David Eby, former minister of jobs, economic development, and innovation Brenda Bailey, and current Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation minister Diana Gibson, Kelowna-Mission MLA and Shadow Minister Gavin Dew demanded that the government provide answers ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Small business owners in Saanich North and the Islands, and their entrepreneurial counterparts in every part of the country, have been clear - without financial support many of them face a dire future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal and provincial governments have heard the message. This week they began announcing programs to help the small business community through this difficult time. The problem for the many operators I have spoken with, is cash flow. The knock-on effect of losing weeks of revenue while the bills continue to pile up is a problem now and a bigger problem later. Without clarity on what the next weeks and months will look like, it’s next to impossible for business owners to identify their next steps. The support measures announced for individuals, are a rapid response to fill the financial void created when the small business they worked for were forced to shutter -- due to the public health and safety orders requiring physica...