Article Synopsis
The Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation has launched the Nanaimo Business Impact Survey in response to growing concerns from local business owners about rising operating costs and the impacts of BC Budget 2026 provincial policy decisions. Nanaimo businesses are reporting increased difficulty hiring, investing, and sustaining operations. The survey collects direct evidence from business owners and operators in Nanaimo, British Columbia, to inform provincial economic policy. Findings will be presented to the Province, including during Minister Brenda Bailey's visit to Nanaimo. Business owners in Nanaimo are encouraged to participate. Issued by CEO Colin Stansfield, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, 2026.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been hearing the same thing from business owners across Nanaimo: running a business is getting harder.
Costs keep climbing. Rules keep shifting. And too often the people making policy are several steps removed from the day-to-day reality of keeping a company afloat, meeting payroll, and serving customers.
In response, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation and several of our partner business organizations have launched the Nanaimo Business Impact Survey.
It’s short and to the point. We’re asking business owners to tell us plainly how rising costs and recent provincial policy decisions – including elements of BC Budget 2026 – are affecting their ability to operate, hire, and invest.
We intend to bring those real experiences directly into our conversations with the Province, including during Minister Brenda Bailey’s upcoming visit to Nanaimo.
Economic policy shouldn’t be built on assumptions or headlines. It should be informed by the people actually doing the work of running businesses and employing people in this community.
If you own, manage, or operate a business in Nanaimo, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The stronger the response, the harder it is for decision-makers to ignore what’s happening on the ground.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey below.
Colin Stansfield
Chief Executive Officer
Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation
