New Westminster City Councillor Tasha Henderson is rallying Councillors from across Metro Vancouver to stand up for small businesses during BC Buy Local Week.  

“Small businesses are not only huge investments of money and time for the owners, but also significantly contribute to the vibrancy of our communities,” said Councillor Henderson. “I’m hearing from many small businesses that outrageous unexpected rent increases are making it tough to make ends meet.”

This week, Councillor Henderson will be bringing together Councillors and Mayors from across Metro Vancouver including from Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, the City of Langley, Mission, and Burnaby. She is also convening a roundtable for small business owners from across the region in New Westminster and touring Mission where the City completed a $4.5 million Downtown Beautification Project only to see longtime businesses forced to close or relocate due to sudden and substantial rent increases. The goal: to better understand the real impacts on communities and coordinate advocacy efforts to the Province for commercial rent reform.

Aaron Binder of the Better Way Alliance, an organization whose mission is to support small business owners, will be attending these meetings alongside Henderson. The Better Way Alliance works with business groups and Councils across the country, advocating for small business and commercial tenant support, including sustainable commercial rent increases. In their recent research with Ontario-based businesses, more than 50% of small businesses they spoke to expected to move or close at the next lease renewal.

“If we want to support residents to buy local, we have to make sure we have local businesses left to support,” says Henderson. “No one wants an entire city of chain and big box stores.”

Councillor Henderson previously championed small business support at the Union of BC Municipalities calling on the Province to develop a framework for commercial rent regulation, including caps on extreme rent increases. The resolution was passed at the UBCM Convention in 2024.