Advocacy
Championing the interests of the business community and bringing local business perspectives into the conversations shaping the Peninsula.
Advocating for a Strong, Sustainable Business Community
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce advocates for a strong, sustainable business environment across our region.
We listen to our members, bring business perspectives into conversations with decision-makers, and work collaboratively to support policies that strengthen our communities and local economy.
Our role is to ensure the voice of local business is part of the discussions shaping the future of the Saanich Peninsula.
Ongoing
Current Chamber efforts
These are the advocacy and committee-led initiatives where the Chamber is currently focusing its energy and engagement.
Previous
Past advocacy work
This work reflects advocacy the Chamber has helped advance over time and continues to monitor as needed.
How We Advocate
Chamber advocacy is built through listening, coordination, and ongoing engagement
Listen to Members
Listening to our members and identifying shared priorities.
Engage Decision-Makers
Engaging with municipal, regional, and provincial decision-makers.
Host Conversations
Hosting forums and conversations with community leaders.
Support Committees
Supporting sector committees that bring industry expertise forward.
Share Policy Updates
Communicating policy developments that impact local businesses.
Ongoing Committee Work
The Chamber Marine Sector Committee
This effort is about building awareness, coordination, and participation around the Chamber's Marine Sector Committee and the future of the industrial marine sector on the Saanich Peninsula.
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is pleased to introduce the Marine Sector Committee, a focused initiative created to support and advocate for the region's industrial marine sector.
The Saanich Peninsula is a recognized hub for marine activity in the Pacific Northwest, serving both recreational boating and industrial marine businesses. With established marine assets and a strong concentration of industry expertise, the region has significant potential for growth.
At the same time, businesses in this sector face challenges that can limit expansion and long-term sustainability. The Marine Committee exists to help address those challenges through coordination, advocacy, and sector-wide collaboration.
Key Focus Areas
What the Marine Committee Is Focused On
Through engagement with industry stakeholders, the Chamber has identified several priority areas where coordinated support is needed.
Sector Scope and Economic Impact
The committee is working to better define the size, shape, and economic contribution of the marine sector on the Peninsula, including building a stronger picture of the businesses that make up the industry.
Land Use and Working Harbour Advocacy
Marine businesses depend on industrial lands and functioning waterfront access. The committee helps surface land use, zoning, and working harbour issues that affect long-term business viability.
Workforce Development
Access to skilled labour is a growing concern across the sector. The committee supports stronger connections between marine businesses, training pathways, and workforce development efforts.
How the Committee Helps
The Marine Committee provides a practical structure for collaboration and action across the sector.
- Brings marine businesses together to share information, align priorities, and address common challenges.
- Collects and organizes sector data to support better decision-making and stronger advocacy.
- Engages with local governments on land use, zoning, and working harbour issues affecting marine businesses.
- Supports connections between marine businesses, training organizations, and workforce development initiatives.
- Creates a more coordinated and consistent voice for the marine sector on the Saanich Peninsula.
Get Involved
The Chamber is committed to supporting a strong and resilient marine sector. If you would like to learn more about the committee or express interest in participating, we would love to hear from you.
This is a great fit for business owners, industry stakeholders, and community members who care about the future of the marine industry on the Peninsula.
Marine Sector Committee
Want to Join the Committee?
Complete the form below and the Chamber team will follow up with next steps for Marine Sector Committee participation.
Ongoing Advocacy Effort
Workforce & Right to Housing
Access to affordable housing is closely connected to the health of our local workforce and economy.
Across the Saanich Peninsula, many employees who work in our communities are unable to afford to live here. When housing costs rise beyond reach, businesses face increasing challenges attracting and retaining the workers they need to operate and grow.
Canada recognizes adequate housing as a human right through the National Housing Strategy Act (Bill C-97). The federal government defines affordable housing as costing no more than 30% of a household's gross income. In many communities across our region, housing costs now significantly exceed that threshold.
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber believes strong communities are built when people have the opportunity to live close to where they work, access services, and participate fully in community life.
Our Advocacy Focus
Policies that support housing, workforce stability, and resilient communities
- Expand the supply of diverse housing options across the region
- Encourage thoughtful density and housing forms that support workforce needs
- Improve alignment between employment growth and housing availability
- Support transportation and infrastructure that connects people to employment
- Strengthen the long-term sustainability of local businesses and communities
Why It Matters for Business
A stable workforce is essential for a healthy regional economy. When employees can live near their workplace:
- Businesses are better able to recruit and retain staff
- Communities reduce long commuting distances and environmental impacts
- Local economies benefit when workers live, shop, and participate locally
Housing, workforce stability, and economic vitality are closely connected, and thoughtful policy solutions can help strengthen all three.
Ongoing Advocacy Effort
Business Environment & Economic Growth
We advocate for policies that support a healthy local economy, sustainable growth, and a competitive environment for businesses of all sizes.
This work reflects one of the Chamber's most fundamental roles: helping shape the overall conditions in which local businesses operate. Not every advocacy issue is a single campaign. Some of the Chamber's work is about the broader business environment itself.
That means paying attention to the policies, regulations, infrastructure decisions, and economic conditions that influence whether businesses can start, invest, hire, adapt, and grow. It is ongoing work that supports business confidence and long-term economic resilience across the Saanich Peninsula.
Competitive Conditions
We support practical policy and regulatory conditions that help businesses operate with confidence, plan ahead, and stay competitive.
Economic Confidence
A healthy local economy depends on an environment where businesses can invest, hire, adapt, and contribute to long-term regional prosperity.
Sustainable Growth
We advocate for growth that strengthens communities, supports local employers, and reflects the realities of doing business on the Saanich Peninsula.
Advocacy in Practice
What this effort looks like in everyday Chamber advocacy
- Bringing forward member concerns about the overall business climate and local economic conditions.
- Engaging municipal, regional, and provincial decision-makers on policies that affect business confidence and investment.
- Supporting conversations about infrastructure, land use, transportation, workforce, and other conditions tied to economic growth.
- Providing practical business perspective when broader economic or policy issues affect the ability of local firms to operate and expand.
Why It Matters
A stronger business environment benefits the whole region.
When businesses can operate in a stable, competitive, and growth-oriented environment, communities benefit from stronger investment, job creation, local spending, and a more resilient regional economy.
This is core Chamber advocacy: helping ensure local business perspectives are part of the bigger economic conversations shaping the Peninsula.
Previous Advocacy Effort
Biosolids Management at Hartland Landfill
A significant advocacy effort that helped push biosolids management toward a more protective and sustainable path for the region.
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, alongside local business partners and community organizations, previously raised concerns regarding the land application of biosolids at the Hartland Landfill and the potential impacts on environmental health, agriculture, and the local economy.
As a result of sustained advocacy efforts, in June 2024, the Capital Regional District (CRD) approved a revised biosolids management plan. Under this plan, biosolids may only be directed to Hartland in emergency situations, and biosolids have not been sent to Hartland since March 2024.
The CRD is now exploring long-term, sustainable solutions, including new thermal technologies that would convert Class A biosolids into biochar, a carbon-rich material that can reduce contaminants of concern, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and lock in carbon. This work represents a significant shift toward improved environmental protection and responsible waste management.
The Chamber will continue to monitor developments and engage with partners and decision-makers to ensure outcomes that support business confidence, environmental stewardship, and community well-being across the Saanich Peninsula.
Key Milestone
June 2024
The CRD approved a revised biosolids management plan limiting Hartland use to emergency situations.
Current Status
Biosolids have not been sent to Hartland since March 2024, while long-term solutions continue to be explored.
Learn More - Environmental Research
Supporting materials and research references related to biosolids management.
- Campanale et al. A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health, 2020George Heyman SCBC Letter, CRD Env Comm, 2011IOPA Biosolids letter, 02-10-20Maine passes first PFAS biosolids ban, taking stand against forever chemicals, 2022Maler, An Overview of the Dangers of Sewer Sludge (Biosolids)Pozzebon & Seifert, Emerging environmental health risks associated with the land application of biosolids-a scoping review, 2023Sajjad et al, Microplastics in the Soil Environment-A critical review, 2022Tom Maler technical analysis-sewage sludge contaminationUVic Environmental Law Society Biosolids Update for CRD, 10-30-13
Local Partners
Organizations and community partners connected to this work.
Support Future Advocacy
Join the Chamber to support advocacy like this
Membership helps the Chamber take on major advocacy issues, build coalitions, and carry that work forward over time. It strengthens our ability to respond when business confidence, environmental stewardship, and community well-being are affected across the Saanich Peninsula.
Your Voice Matters
Advocacy begins with our members.
If your business is facing a challenge related to policy, regulation, workforce, infrastructure, or the local business environment, we want to hear from you.
Your insights help inform the Chamber's advocacy priorities and conversations with decision-makers.