BCBusiness Report Card: A bad look for the province’s employers

We assess how different people/things and, of course, businesses fared this week

As is custom here at the BCBusiness Report Card, we took last week off due to the long weekend.

But fear not! We’re back and very much ready to wreak havoc wherever it needs such wreaking. In this edition, you’ll feel good for Vancouver startups and B.C. farmers markets, and bad for an antiquated tax system and the City of Port Alberni.

Unless, you know, you don’t feel things. In that case, welcome to the club. 

Here’s what made the grade this week (and what didn’t).  

Farmers markets

Grade: A+

Farmers markets aren’t just great to look at or a chance for well-to-do yuppies to stretch their legs and feel good about buying local. They also contribute to the economy, believe it or not!

Recent research (and yeah, it wasn’t released this week, but I went to a farmers market on the weekend and I’m feeling real great about it, so get off my godamn back) shows that 80 percent of B.C. shoppers look for and prefer purchasing food that supports their local economy. In addition, 79 percent desire fresh food, and 77 percent factor in how safe the food they purchase is for consumption.

In all, B.C. farmers markets contribute about $150 million in economic benefits. 

Vancouver startups

Grade: A

We know, you’re sick of hearing about coworking spaces. After all, they are everywhere and only growing in popularity. Home offices and coffee shops just don’t cut it anymore, haven’t you heard? 

But one of the newest entrants into the marketplace, Pavilion Cowork, has announced its presence with a decidedly cool bang. The company is offering free shared office space at its Mount Pleasant location (Main and 5th) for up-and-coming businesses with new and inventive ideas.

Designed specifically to support promising startups, the Pavilion Incubator Program will provide five businesses with three months of free rent in private offices starting this September. Applicants will be selected based on the originality of their business concept, with a premium placed on those disrupting their industry.

Come to think about it, their offices are pretty nice…

[Googles “how to disrupt an industry”]

Putting pressure on the feds 

Grade: B

Under the dictionary definition of “throwing shade,” there’s now just a hyperlink to this Greater Vancouver Board of Trade release about housing in the region.

In the report, the GVBOT essentially outlines what exactly the federal government could do to help the Vancouver housing market. 

Of course, the timing of this is somewhat political—you may have heard about an election happening in October. Expect federal parties to adopt some of the GVBOT’s recommendations as part of their platforms in blatant attempts to attract Vancouver voters. 

B.C.’s employers

Grade: C

It’s probably a little unfair to lump them all in on this, but Indeed’s list of Canada’s top employers doesn’t paint B.C. in the best light.

Only three companies based in the province made Indeed’s top 25—Deloitte (12), Telus (13) and Ledcor (19). All three are based in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, is Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment taking the No. 1 spot some sort of cruel troll on the rest of the country?

Indeed it is.

B.C.’s tax system

Grade: D

When an all-party committee can agree that something is bad…well, that’s pretty much the end of it right there. The committee‘s report is apparently unanimous and recommends reviews of the province‘s carbon tax, employer health tax, luxury tax, speculation, vacancy and provincial sales taxes.

Now we sit and see how the various players use these recommendations for political manoeuvring. Can’t wait! 

Port Alberni 

Grade: F

It’s just sad, really. Hopefully the town won’t be remembered for the two teenagers who were the subject of a countrywide manhunt.

After all, Port Alberni has produced people like philanthropist extraordinaire Rick Hansen, the country’s first (and so far only) female prime minister in Kim Campbell and (our runaway favourite) former Vancouver Canucks broadcaster Jim Robson.

But more seriously, our heart goes out to the families of the victims, and to the people of Port Alberni.

Got something you want graded? Email ncaddell@canadawide.com