Nearly half of all small businesses in Western Canada have been affected directly or indirectly by crime, according to a new survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business .The report – Crime and Safety in Western Canada – was released just two days after a coalition of B.C. businesses and organizations launched the Save Our Streets campaign to highlight the crime and social decay evident on the streets from Dawson Creek to Vancouver.
Vandalism has become such a problem for businesses in B.C. that the provincial government on Sunday announced a new grant to help businesses pay for repairs caused by vandals. “Small businesses are already implementing measures to better protect their business, customers, and employees, including spending more money on security, adjusting operations, and providing additional safety training for staff. Some report having to pay more to attract and retain employees, further contributing to labour shortage challenges.”