C-19 BULLETIN - April 7, 2020

Government Announcements

Today, Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed that draft legislation for the wage subsidy was shared with the opposition parties. The Prime Minister noted that government has been working to refine the CEWS based on feedback, and more details will be announced soon.

  • 996,000 new claims were filed for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) on Monday, which offers people up to $2,000 a month for up to 16 weeks.
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Tourism Businesses on Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands & Sunshine Coast to receive support through
Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program

Tourism Vancouver Island is committed to supporting the survival of nearly 3,500 tourism businesses on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the launch of the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program.

Beginning this week, the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program provides Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast tourism businesses (including Indigenous tourism businesses) with meaningful, hands-on guidance and support to navigate the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to work towards long-term resiliency.

The Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program includes two components:
i. Tourism businesses will be paired with a Business Resiliency Specialist who, through a needs assessment consultation by phone, will facilitate customized support for each business that includes navigating available relief measures, resource links, answers to frequently asked questions and free appointments with program experts in finance, human resources, legal services and more. Program specialists will provide client care to each business through their entire journey to recovery.
ii. A digital resource hub ( www.victrp.ca ), including regular webinars, information bulletins and additional resources.

To register for the program, tourism businesses on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast can visit the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program website at www.victrp.ca or call the program Help Line at 1-855-722-9036.

The program will begin with an introductory webinar on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. PST and participants can sign-up on the website.

The Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program is funded in partnership with Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) and delivered in part with assistance from the Sunshine Coast Tourism Association.

For more details visit: victrp.ca or download the Tourism Vancouver Island media release
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Working Remote but Feeling Connected During the Pandemic

Speakers Spotlight is an agency that has arranged more than 30,000 speaking engagements in over 35 countries worldwide, including here in British Columbia. Their website is full of articles and webinars related to working and communicating during a pandemic.

For many of us, working remotely used to be a rare occasion. But, this new work-from-home transition means we all have to rethink how we interact with our team members and clients to maintain our relationships during this unprecedented time.

Jordan Axani from Shift Collab has broken down some of his work-from-home do’s and don’ts that have proven effective for his team.

Check out other topics on their blog: www.speakers.ca/blog
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Our industry is full of innovative, caring and helpful people.
Share your stories with us and we will share them here in our daily bulletin.

As Travellers Stay Home,
Vancouver’s Burrard Hotel Gives Hospital Workers a Place to Rest

For doctors, nurses and other front-line staff who need a nap or a shower, the boutique hotel is a refuge. Heather Greenwood Davis reports on how The Burrard navigated the transition

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Coquitlam Company Retools, Will Be First in Canada to Produce N95 Respirators

Jason Zanatta is saving lives, and saving jobs.

The Coquitlam-based producer of pillows and dog beds is poised to become the first manufacturer of N95 respirators in Canada.

Zanatta, who is immune-compromised and the father of two young sons, heard Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s  call to action  on March 20 asking businesses to mobilize to manufacture personal protective equipment.He immediately reached out to contacts in China who helped him source two fully automated mask production machines. As borders were closing and international freight options were drying up, he knew he had to act quickly. He paid $600,000 in cash for the two-tonne machines. The first machine was air-freighted to Vancouver — a near miracle, its delivery eased through international channels with help from various levels of government.

Starting Tuesday, 100,000 medical-grade surgical masks will be rolling off the assembly line daily. Once the second machine arrives, he will be able to produce 100,000 N95 masks a day as well.

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Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at [email protected].