Two-thirds of B.C. businesses say crime and street disorder getting worse | Daily Hive

A police incident at the former Howard Johnson hotel, turned into a supportive housing site, at the Granville Entertainment District in downtown Vancouver on July 25, 2025. (Kenneth Chan)

Business owners across British Columbia say crime, vandalism, and street disorder are continuing to erode their sense of security and their bottom line, according to a new survey.

The Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC), which represents 80 business districts and over 55,000 businesses across the province, surveyed more than 350 owners in late June and early July.

The results show that 67 per cent of respondents believe crime and disorder have worsened in the past year, with many pointing to open drug use, mental health crises on the streets, growing homeless encampments, and repeated incidents of vandalism, theft, and aggression.

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The ripple effects are being felt in workplaces across the province.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of businesses reported that their staff are experiencing heightened fear and anxiety tied to these conditions.

More than half (57 per cent) say customer traffic has declined as a result, and a similar share (61 per cent) say operating expenses have gone up because of crime and property damage.

Perhaps most concerning, almost one in five (19 per cent) owners said their business may not be financially viable beyond the next year if the situation does not improve.

While this year’s percentages differ somewhat from those recorded in BIABC’s 2024 survey, the overall picture has not shifted. Last year, the majority of businesses also described worsening crime and safety challenges, and roughly the same proportion warned that they might not survive another year without change. BIABC says the consistency of the findings shows the crisis has become deeply entrenched.

“Small and medium-sized business owners and their staff simply want to come to work without worrying about violence or disorder,” said Jeremy Heighton, president of BIABC. He emphasized that the issue is not about pointing fingers at those struggling with addiction, homelessness, or mental illness, but rather about ensuring safe workplaces while expanding access to on-demand treatment and wraparound services.

For the past three years, the association has been calling on the Government of B.C. to put forward a comprehensive plan that addresses the root causes of crime and disorder, including mental health and addictions. BIABC is urging significant new investments in treatment services and housing, along with measures to manage prolific offenders.

Without that kind of systemic response, the group warns, the future for many small and medium-sized businesses across the province remains uncertain.

“Small businesses have been left to fend for themselves. Every day brings another story of property crime, open drug use, violence, or even a body found outside a storefront. The NDP’s failed policies are making the situation worse,” said Gavin Dew, the Kelowna-Mission MLA for the Conservative Party of B.C., and the opposition critic for jobs, economic development, and innovation.

“These are heartbreaking and frustrating issues, but talk isn’t enough. We need action – real investments and policy changes that tackle the root causes of mental health, addiction, and homelessness.”

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