COMMERCE & ECONOMY

@ a glance

- Invest in growing local industries and established sources of income alike, including tourism, technology development and arts and entertainment.

- Invest in green technology and energy efficiency in anticipation of increasing fuel prices.

- Advance Victoria's recognition as a center for education and employment.

- Boost opportunities for students and youth to live in Victoria and become part of the local workforce by increasing affordable housing and creating joint civic incentives for owners, managers and staff of independent businesses.

- Review the environmental and economic contributions of independent businesses that use local resources, materials and staff where possible, and negotiate incentives accordingly.

- Apply a set of civic expectations for businesses of all scale to collectively achieve maximum economic and environmental sustainability, and apply additional taxes to new commercial outfits and developments that detract from local trading, networking and support opportunities.

Many remain confident that the economic disposition of the United States will never make a significant impact this side of the border. But it doesn't take a lot to recognize that high gas prices and a harsh realty market has thinned the stream of Southern visitors to beautiful Victoria. Ultimately, it's an unpredictable time economically, and with the advent of cheap oil threatening to decease, time is running out to guarantee economic sustainability.

By investing in new technologies that support a greener, leaner future, and local, indie commerce that doesn't rely on the increasingly expensive and harmful use of foreign goods and services, we can become a protege for cities on the brink of a green shift while growing a competitive edge in an economic future fueled by local development.

This vision can be achieved through both incentives and penalties in taxes, civic services and goods, as well as through general municipal commitments and policies.

Furthermore, supporting our young workers through a new network of local business staff and supporters with exclusive incentives such as free access to select recreational or lifestyle services will reduce the strain on the retail industry to offer wages competitive with those of foreign conglomerates. We can also improve national and international recognition of Victoria as the education capital that it is, attracting even more students to take advantage of programs available at our colleges and universities and support the vibrancy of our economy.