BIABC Is Standing Up for Small Businesses in BC
Running a small business in BC has never been simple, and current economic pressures are making it even tougher. While the Province’s 2026 budget reflects real financial constraints, the Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia (BIABC) is making it clear that tight budgets should not mean inaction when it comes to supporting local businesses.
BIABC represents more than 80 business districts and approximately 55,000 businesses across the province, including South Granville and its businesses. Through its latest advocacy efforts, BIABC is pushing for practical, often low- or no-cost actions that would improve certainty, safety, and resilience for small businesses right now.
Here are BIABC’s current key advocacy areas, with direct relevance to our neighbourhood:
Public Safety and Repeat Offending
Public safety remains one of the most urgent concerns for retail, hospitality, and service businesses. BIABC is calling for stronger provincial leadership and better coordination between police, courts, municipalities, and community partners to address repeat violent and non-violent offending.
For South Granville members, this advocacy supports ongoing efforts to reduce theft, vandalism, and safety incidents, and reinforces the need for coordinated enforcement and prevention strategies that protect both businesses and the broader community.
Red Tape Affecting Restaurants and Cafés
BIABC is also pushing back against regulatory and administrative burdens that disproportionately impact food and beverage businesses. Examples highlighted include new WorkSafeBC rules that require tips to be reported as payroll, potentially increasing premiums and administrative risk for employers, as well as inflexible liquor distribution rules that limit how restaurants and bars can respond to supply disruptions.
Supportive Housing Planning
BIABC is advocating for more thoughtful, coordinated planning around supportive housing. The concern is not about whether housing exists, but how it is planned and distributed across communities. Concentrating similar low-barrier or supportive housing projects in a single area can create unintended pressures on neighbourhood safety, foot traffic, and economic vitality if not planned collaboratively with local stakeholders.
Buy BC and Shop Local initiatives
Strengthening internal trade and expanding Buy BC and Shop Local initiatives is another core focus. BIABC sees local sourcing and domestic market access as one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to build economic resilience for small businesses.