Strike Updates, Advocacy Updates, Property Taxes and more industry news inside. ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Cannabis Industry Update: November 12, 2025 |
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Dear ABLE BC Cannabis Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private cannabis industry: -
BCGEU Ratification Vote To Be Completed - November 13
- ABLE BC Presents: The Fraser Valley Industry Mixer on November 27
- City of Vancouver Approves Zero Percent Property Tax Increase for 2026
- District of North Vancouver Reduces Cannabis Retail Fees
- City of Courtenay amends Annual Cannabis Retailer Fees
- Update: WorkSafeBC and Gratuities on Payroll
- New Serious Illness or Injury Leave for BC Employees
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go2HR: Gear Up for Winter - 3 Training Courses to Prepare Your Team
- ABLE BC at Grow Up Industry Conference & Expo
- Member Spotlight: North Shore Cannabis
- Out and About with ABLE BC
- Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
- Help our Cannabis Advocacy - Join ABLE BC
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BCGEU Ratification Vote To Be Completed: November 13 |
The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) members are concluding their ratification vote this week on the tentative agreement reached between the union and the provincial government’s Public Service Agency (PSA).
Online voting runs from November 6 to 13, with results to be announced on November 13 via press release. The tentative agreement, announced on October 26, follows nine months of negotiations and eight weeks of strike action.
ABLE BC’s Executive Director Bo Chen met with the BCGEU this week to discuss collaboration on ensuring a strong restart to cannabis distribution for private retailers. Bo comments:
“My conversation with Mr. Finch and the BCGEU team on the vote ratification process was encouraging and I look forward to joint efforts between all stakeholders on this restart."
ABLE BC will continue to monitor developments and keep members informed as results are released. |
ABLE BC Presents: The Fraser Valley Industry Mixer November 27 |
An evening of networking, collaboration, and connection with BC's industry professionals
As we celebrate ABLE BC's 50th Anniversary, we're kicking off a province-wide series of events over the next nine months - starting with our opening celebration at The Barn Country Bar in Surrey on November 27, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Expect delicious appies, great networking, tastings, and meaningful conversations about the key issues shaping our industry. REGISTER HERE
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or general information, please contact Jesse Sidhu, Manager of Events, Partnerships & Membership at jesse@ablebc.ca. If you are a beverage distributor or provider, we encourage you to connect with Jesse as well regarding participation opportunities at this and future events. |
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City of Vancouver Approves 0% Property Tax Increase for 2026 |
On October 8, Vancouver City Council approved a motion by Mayor Ken Sim on to direct staff to prepare a zero per cent property tax increase in the next budget. ABLE BC's Bo Chen comments:
"This is welcomed news. The 0% increase in property tax will help provide Vancouverites and the small business community, a confident financial outlook and stability during uncertain times."
Global News reports, Sim’s motion directs staff to find savings, while prioritizing core city services and maintaining community grants, library and community centre services. However, delivering a zero per cent increase would require cutting about $100 million from the city’s operating budget.
For more information, please refer to the press release.
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People
Working Well The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a resource hub for employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work. |
| Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for cannabis retail businesses. Click here to read past cannabis newsletters. |
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ABLE BC
Member Portal
The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact jesse@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in. |
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District of North Van Reduces Cannabis Retail Fee
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On October 20, the District of North Vancouver (DNV) Council unanimously approved proposed changes to cannabis retail operating hours and business licence fees, marking an important step toward improving the competitiveness of the local cannabis industry.
Under the updated policy, cannabis retailers in the District may now operate from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, aligning with provincial regulations and neighbouring municipalities. In addition, business licence fees will be gradually reduced over the next three years to bring them in line with liquor retailer fees by 2028.
ABLE BC has been advocating for these updates for nearly a year to Mayor Mike Little and Council ahead of the vote, commending the District’s balanced approach to cannabis policy. “We are pleased to see Council take meaningful steps to support the long-term viability of local cannabis businesses and create a more equitable regulatory landscape between liquor and cannabis retail. This change will help level the playing field and strengthen the local industry.” said ABLE BC's Bo Chen. |
City of Courtenay Amends Annual Cannabis Retailer Fees |
The City of Courtenay has officially adopted amendments to its business licence bylaw, reducing annual fees for cannabis retailers and aligning them more closely with other retail businesses.
At its October 1 Council Meeting, Courtenay Council approved Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 3199 – Storefront Cannabis Retailer, changing the annual business licence fee from a flat $2,500 per year to a tiered retail pricing model based on square footage. This adjustment brings cannabis retailer fees in line with Courtenay’s broader retail fee structure and reflects a fair, balanced approach to supporting the long-term viability of local cannabis businesses.
ABLE BC commends the City of Courtenay for its leadership and collaboration with industry. Bo Chen stated:
“This adjustment represents a fair and thoughtful step toward aligning cannabis retailer fees with those applied to other retail businesses in Courtenay. It also demonstrates the City’s commitment to supporting a balanced, equitable, and sustainable regulatory environment for the local cannabis industry. We sincerely thank Council and staff for your leadership and collaboration with industry. Policy changes like this make a tangible difference.”
You can view the staff report here and the Council meeting minutes here. ABLE BC will continue working with municipalities across the province to ensure equitable, evidence-based cannabis retail policies that support a sustainable private sector. |
Update: WorkSafeBC and Gratuities on Payroll |
For over two years, the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA), supported by ABLE BC and other industry partners, has been working to address growing concerns around WorkSafeBC’s enforcement of a gratuity payroll inclusion policy.
Historically, gratuities have never been included as part of payroll in the hospitality sector - nor is this standard practice in other industries where tipping is common. Until recently, WorkSafeBC had chosen not to enforce this policy, recognizing the complexity and financial burden it would place on small businesses. That changed in fall 2023, when a long-established restaurant was audited and penalized for not including gratuities in payroll. Although the penalties were ultimately reversed, other businesses are now facing audits, fines, and costly reassessments at a time when BC’s hospitality and service industries can least afford it.
In response, the BCRFA - alongside ABLE BC and industry partners - sent a joint letter to WorkSafeBC calling for immediate action. In November 2025, ABLE BC and partners sent a follow-up letter to the President and Board Chair of WorkSafeBC, again urging a three-year delay in policy enforcement. Unfortunately, WorkSafeBC rejected this request outright. We were taken aback by their continued refusal to recognize how fragile the BC economy is. Their unwillingness to pursue a collaborative solution - like the one we achieved with the BCGEU - has created major uncertainty across our industry. ABLE BC has been working on this issue for over 24 months and remains steadfast in advocating for fair, practical policies that protect hospitality and service businesses across BC.
Next steps: ABLE BC and partners are preparing a very public response to ensure industry concerns are heard.
If you are contacted by WorkSafeBC regarding gratuity payroll audits or policy enforcement, please contact Bo Chen at bo@ablebc.ca.
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New Serious Illness or Injury Leave for BC Employees |
In 2024, the British Columbia government made a commitment to provide better peace of mind for people dealing with major medical conditions.
On October 20, 2025, the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, introduced Bill 30, the Employment Standards (Serious Illness or Injury Leave) Amendment Act, 2025. If passed by the Legislative Assembly, Bill 30 will establish a new, unpaid job protected leave entitlement of up to 27 weeks in a 52-week period for employees experiencing serious illness or injury. This timeframe aligns with financial supports available through the federal Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits program, and with serious illness and injury leave in other Canadian jurisdictions. The input of business and labour stakeholders, as well as health practitioners, was extremely helpful to the development of this new leave entitlement. We very much appreciate the submission provided by your organization.
Bill 30 may be found here.
The associated news release may be found here. |
go2HR: Gear Up for Winter - 3 Training Courses to Prepare Your Team |
As the winter season approaches, your workplace might be welcoming new staff, scaling up operations, and managing higher guest expectations. A bit of early training can go a long way in building confidence, reducing risks, and helping teams deliver the exceptional experiences BC is known for. These free online courses from go2HR, designed specifically for the Tourism & Hospitality industry, can help your team kick off the season safely and successfully:
Looking to take service excellence even further? Consider the shorter, refreshed SuperHost® programs (Foundations of Service Quality and Foundations of Inclusive Service) to strengthen customer experience and team performance. Together, these courses help build skilled, resilient teams who are ready for the months ahead.
Explore more training opportunities and get your team winter-ready. |
ABLE BC at Grow Up Industry Conference & Expo |
ABLE BC's Bo Chen will be joining the speaker lineup at the Grow Up Industry Conference & Expo, taking place January 19–21, 2026, in Vancouver. Bo will participate in the Executive Summit powered by StratCann, speaking on an advocacy panel alongside other cannabis industry leaders and changemakers. The panel will focus on advancing collaboration, policy reform, and sustainable growth across Canada’s cannabis sector. Grow Up is one of the country’s leading cannabis conferences, bringing together over 100 world-class speakers for panels, masterclasses, and networking opportunities covering cultivation, retail, extraction, and emerging trends. Learn more and register for the event at growupconference.com. |
Member Spotlight: North Shore Cannabis |
Proudly women-owned and operated, North Shore Cannabis is more than a dispensary - it’s an experience. North Shore Cannabis is on a mission to unite people and communities through the power of cannabis. Their philosophy rests on three pillars: Compassion. Confidence. Competence. From carefully curated products to personalized guidance, the team is dedicated to helping customers feel safe, informed, and empowered. |
Voted North Vancouver’s favourite dispensary in the North Shore News Readers’ Choice Awards two years in a row, North Shore Cannabis continues to break stigma and raise the standard for quality and education in cannabis retail.
Visit them at 103-1520 Barrow Street in North Vancouver, right across from Phibbs Exchange, or learn more at northshorecannabis.ca. |
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars Check out these upcoming events: |
Help Our Cannabis Advocacy - Join ABLE BC
Do you own a cannabis retail store? Sign up now for an ABLE BC Cannabis Membership to support the work we do on your behalf.
As ABLE BC works to support BC’s cannabis retailers, we meet regularly with various officials at the LDB, LCRB, and with elected officials in the federal, provincial, and municipal government. With your support, we are making meaningful headway amending regulations and policies that support industry growth.
ABLE BC Cannabis Members have access to several benefit programs that offer exclusive discounts and are designed to help your business thrive. In addition to our benefit programs, we offer expert advice , regular webinars, and many networking opportunities.
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