Property taxes, public safety are top concerns for Metro Vancouver businesses: poll | Daily Hive

Property tax restraint and public safety are among the top municipal concerns for Metro Vancouver businesses: survey

Vancouver City Hall. (Kenneth Chan)

A large majority of businesses responding to a recent Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) survey want municipal governments to keep annual property tax increases at roughly the rate of inflation or lower.

The survey results released today found 86 per cent of respondents supported limiting annual property tax increases to approximately two per cent or less.

At the same time, 71 per cent supported the creation of a dedicated infrastructure fund, provided the money is used exclusively to renew and improve infrastructure.

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“This survey shows that businesses are not asking municipalities to simply spend less, they are asking them to spend better,” said Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, in a statement.

“Businesses are prepared to support investment in infrastructure and community safety when they can see clear priorities, accountability and results. At the same time, governments need to redouble efforts to reduce the red tape, delays and costs that make it harder to invest, hire and grow.”

When asked what municipal governments should prioritize, 50 per cent selected making it easier to conduct business. Economic development and attracting investment followed at 48 per cent, while 46 per cent chose infrastructure renewal, investment, and asset management.

The most commonly identified municipal cost pressure was the burden of complying with local regulations and administrative requirements, selected by 43 per cent of respondents. Property taxes and permitting delays were each cited by 42 per cent.

Public safety also emerged as a major concern. About two-thirds (67 per cent) of respondents said street disorder and perceptions of safety were affecting their operations. Employee and customer safety concerns were cited by 48 per cent, while 39 per cent pointed to vandalism and property crime.

Asked how municipal governments could improve safety, 70 per cent supported partnerships offering mental health and social services. Just over half (53 per cent) backed a coordinated police and bylaw presence, while 46 per cent supported better lighting, maintenance, and activity in public spaces.

Infrastructure was another recurring theme throughout the survey. Engineering and public works was selected by 62 per cent of respondents as the leading operating budget priority, while 67 per cent identified streets and transportation infrastructure as the most important area for capital investment.

There was also support for expanding and improving public transit. The survey found 58 per cent favoured new rapid transit projects where ridership demand justified the investment. Reliable and frequent public transit was supported by 53 per cent, with the same proportion backing improved maintenance and safety across existing transportation networks.

On governance, 61 per cent supported bringing the City of Vancouver’s Building Code into alignment with the provincial government’s BC Building Code, which is the standard followed by all other municipal governments. The City of Vancouver is the only municipal government in the province with its own building code.

Just over half (54 per cent) of respondents opposed municipal governments becoming developers of secured purpose-built rental housing. Another 50 per cent supported some form of amalgamation of the municipalities of Metro Vancouver.

About 60 per cent also identified stronger cost controls and financial oversight, along with a greater focus on core services and infrastructure, as leading priorities for reforming Metro Vancouver Regional District.

GVBOT surveyed its business members between June 8 and June 26, 2026, receiving 129 responses. Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of respondents were based within the City of Vancouver’s jurisdiction, while the remainder were spread across other Metro Vancouver municipal governments.

The organization classified 76 per cent of respondents as small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, while the remaining 24 per cent represented organizations with more than 500 employees. The results reflect the views of participating GVBOT members and were not presented as a survey of the broader public.

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