BIABC Media Releases
For Immediate Release
September 3, 2026
BIABC Survey Finds Growing Crime Concerns Taking
Increasing Toll on BC Businesses and Their Employees
VANCOUVER, BC - As British Columbians prepare to celebrate Labour Day and recognize the contributions of workers across the province, a new Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC) survey suggests many business owners are increasingly concerned about the safety of their employees, customers and commercial districts.
BIABC represents the majority of 80 business improvement districts and more than 55,000 small businesses operating in communities across the province. A survey, based on a modest sample of 100 businesses in different parts of the province, reveals remarkably consistent concerns about worsening street disorder, repeat offending and public safety, reinforcing issues BIABC has been raising with governments across British Columbia for several years.
"Our survey may be modest in size, but the message is unmistakable," said Jeremy Heighton, President of the Business Improvement Areas of BC. "Business owners continue to tell us that crime, vandalism and street disorder are affecting not only their operations, but the well-being of the people they employ every day."
Among the survey's findings:
- 65% say public safety and street disorder are significant concerns for their business.
- 63% say operating conditions have worsened over the past year.
- 68% are concerned about the impact crime is having on employee well-being.
- More than half say public safety issues are making it harder to recruit and retain employees.
- 89% believe governments are not doing enough to address repeat offending, retail crime and public safety.
Businesses identified open drug use, street disorder, aggressive behaviour, vandalism and shoplifting as the issues having the greatest impact on their operations. Many respondents described employees dealing with harassment, break-ins, graffiti, discarded drug paraphernalia and increasingly difficult interactions with customers concerned about safety.
"Labour Day is about recognizing workers," said Heighton. "Too many employees are beginning or ending their shifts wondering whether they'll encounter aggressive behaviour, open drug use, vandalism or another break-in. No one should have to accept that as part of coming to work."
The survey also points to a growing disconnect between the investments businesses are making to improve safety and government policies that increase those costs. Beginning October 1, British Columbia's expanded Provincial Sales Tax will apply to private security services used by businesses throughout the province.
“Businesses have responded to rising crime by investing in security patrols, alarm monitoring, cameras and other measures to better protect their employees and customers," said Heighton. "Unfortunately, just weeks from now those same businesses will be required to pay PST on many of those services. At precisely the time businesses are being encouraged to invest more in safety, government is making those investments more expensive."
The survey found nearly 90% of respondents support BIABC's call for the provincial government to pause the expansion of PST to professional services and work with businesses on a more balanced approach to affordability and competitiveness.
"Businesses are resilient, but resilience has limits," Heighton said. "This survey should serve as another reminder that public safety is no longer simply a policing issue - it's an economic, workforce and community issue. Before asking businesses to pay more to protect themselves, governments should be asking Businesses why they have had to shoulder so much of that responsibility in the first place."
-30-
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Kelly Gleason
kgleeson@lbmg.ca
604-240-6231
Past Media Releases
Breakdown in Trade Talks Makes Supporting BC and Canadian Businesses More Important Than Ever: BIABC
August 24, 206
BIABC Survey: Businesses Warn Expanded PST Will Push Many Closer to the Breaking Point
August 18, 2028
BIABC Welcomes Royal Assent of Bail, Sentencing Reforms and Urges Further Action on Repeat Non-Violent Offenders
June 16, 2026
BIABC Urges Province to Put Small Business at the Centre of Budget Planning Process
June 8, 2026
BIABC Welcomes Provincial Liquor Policy Changes, Encourages Continued Modernization
June 2, 2026
Annual Conference Concludes in Penticton with Focus on Public Safety, Economic Pressures and Main Street Resilience
May 28, 2026
BIABC and NCDA Urge Province to Scrap PST Expansion, Warning Governemnt is "Taxing Safety" for Business
May 19, 2026
Retail Crime Reaching Crisis Levels Across Canada, Reinforcing Concerns Raised by BC Businesses: BIABC
May 12, 2026
BIA Week Shines Light on the Hidden Investment Keeping BC's Main Streets Safe and Vibrant
April 20, 2026
BIABC Welcomes Support for Workers Affected by Tariffs and Global Market Shifts
March 5, 2026
BC Small Businesses Record Worst Sales Decline in Canada as Costs, Crime and Policy Pressures Mount
March 4, 2026
PST Expansion Targets the Price of Safety, Warns BIABC
February 25, 2026
BIABC: Tight Budgets Don't Justify Inaction - Low Cost Decisions Can Still Deliver for Small Business
February 17, 2026
BIABC Outlines Priorities Ahead of February 17 Provincial Budget
February 8, 2026
BC Small Businesses Want Action on Tariffs, Not Signals
February 2, 2026
BIABC Survey Highlights Growing Impact of Non-Violent Crime on Businesses - and why much of it goes unreported
January 15, 2026
BIABC Welcomes National Mutual Recognition Agreement as a Promising Step Toward Easier Interprovincial Trade
November 20, 2025
Budget Fails to Deliver Practical Tariff Support for Small Business
November 4, 2025
During Small Business Week, BIABC Urges Province to Match Words with Action on Liquor Policy
October 20, 2025
BIABC Welcomes Federal Bail Reform as Important Step Toward Safer Communities and Stronger Support for Small Businesses
October 17, 2025
Labour Disputes Underscore Urgent Need to Modernize Provincial Liquor Laws, Says BIABC
October 10, 2025
BIABC Supports UBCM Call for Permanent Housing Policy Roundtable
October 7, 2025
BIABC Labour Day Message: Businesses and Staff Need Safe, Secure Workplaces
August 25, 2025
BIABC Seeks Update on Provincial Government Tariff Response
July 22, 2025
BIABC Provides Input to Pre-Budget Process
June 24, 2025
BIABC Provides Input to Employment Standards Amendment Act
June 10, 2025
Survey Results Show Businesses Shifting Away From American Suppliers Even if it Comes at a Higher Cost
April 23, 2025
Businesses Surveyed to Establish Levels of Shift to Non-American Distributors
April 7, 2025
BC Budget a Missed Opportunity to Support Small Businesses as Tariff Impacts Set In
March 4, 2025
Threat of US Tariffs Create BC Budget Uncertainty but Underscores Need to Support Businesses
February 25, 2025
BIABC Embraces ‘Shop Local’ and ‘Buy Canadian’ But Cautions Against Unintended Consequences That May Harm Local Businesses
February 19, 2025
BIABC Calls on NDP Government to Support Business in the Face of Sweeping Tariffs
January 16, 2025
BIABC Urging Consumers to Rally Around Local Business
December 2, 2024
BIABC Announces New President
November 28, 2024
Critical Issues of Public Safety and Cost of Living Demand Urgent Response from New NDP Government
Octobe 30, 2024
BIABC Statement on Secure Care commitments in advance of Provincial Election
September 17, 2024
BIABC seeks commitments from BC's Political Parties to address critical safety & financial concerns impacting small business owners across the province
September 9, 2024
BIABC Labour Day Message: Business Owners and Front-line Staff Need a Safe Work Environment
August 27, 2024
Impact of Crime & Vandalism and the Cost of Doing Business Focal Points of BIABC Conference
April 23, 2024
Budget 2024 Brings Little Meaningful Relief to Cirtical Issues of Street Crime & the Cost of Doing Business
February 22, 2024