The BC Labour Market Report's
Labour Market Hot Sheet
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Applications for B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers to open May 1
Government / Emergency Support
Temporary relief is on the way for British Columbians whose ability to work has been affected by COVID-19, with applications for the $1,000
B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers (BCEBW)
opening on May 1, 2020.
“
This benefit is further help for British Columbians who are worried about paying their bills and making ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic
,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance. “
During these uncertain times, we want to get through this together by helping displaced workers support themselves and their families
.”
The BCEBW is a one-time, tax-free $1,000 payment for British Columbians whose ability to work has been affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people who are eligible for the new federal
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
are also eligible for the BCEBW, including those who have run out of employment insurance (EI) benefits and subsequently qualify for the CERB.
To be eligible for the BCEBW, people must:
- have been a resident of British Columbia on March 15, 2020;
- meet the eligibility requirements for the CERB;
- have been approved for the CERB, even if they have not received a benefit yet;
- be at least 15 years old on the date of application;
- have filed, or agree to file, a 2019 B.C. income tax return; and
- not be receiving provincial income assistance or disability assistance.
Starting May 1, applications can be made online, at any time, and a link to the application portal will be available at:
www.gov.bc.ca/workerbenefit
Also starting May 1, people can call 778 309-4630 or toll-free within B.C. at 1 855 955-3545, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time) for general support or questions. Applications over the phone will begin on May 4.
Payments will start to go out within days of application. While there may be minor delays during the initial surge, government staff will be working to quickly process payments.
The benefit is part of the Province’s $5-billion
COVID-19 Action Plan
to provide income supports, tax relief and direct funding for people and businesses, and to support the services.
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New Support for students and new grads affected by COVID-19
Education / Student Employment
The
Government of Canada
has announced comprehensive support of nearly $9 billion for post-secondary students and recent graduates. This plan will help provide the financial support they need this summer, help them continue their studies in the fall, and help many get the experience they need to start their careers. These measures include launching:
- the proposed Canada Emergency Student Benefit, which would provide support to students and new graduates who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This benefit would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students or $1,750 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities. The benefit would be available from May to August 2020.
- the new Canada Student Service Grant, which will help students gain valuable work experience and skills while they help their communities during the COVID‑19 pandemic. For students who choose to do national service and serve their communities, the new Canada Student Service Grant will provide up to $5,000 for their education in the fall.
The Government of Canada will expand existing federal employment, skills development, and youth programming to create up to 116,000 jobs, placements, and other training opportunities to help students find employment and develop valuable skills this summer and over the coming months. In addition, to help students continue their studies in the fall, the government will:
- double the Canada Student Grants for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and up to $3,600 for part-time students in 2020-21. The Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependents would also be doubled.
- broaden eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student’s and spouse’s contributions in 2020-21, in recognition that many students and families will struggle to save for school this year.
- enhance the Canada Student Loans Program by raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020-21 from $210 to $350.
- increase existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing an additional $75.2 million in 2020-21.
- extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, and supplement existing federal research grants, to support students and post-doctoral fellows, by providing $291.6 million to the federal granting councils. In addition, the government intends to enhance work opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the National Research Council of Canada.
Official believe, these programs will not only help ensure more students get the financial support they need, but the opportunities and experience many students were counting on
.
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Below, we've included some of the most popular sections of
Labour Market Online
. If you are already a member, for direct access to these sections, simply click on the link below and input your email and password.
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BC Labour Market Report
1215C 56th Street, PO Box 18148, Delta, BC V4L 1B8
Tel: 604-288-2424
Email:
bclmr@outlook.com
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British Columbia's significant labour market stories related to COVID-19 this week
Breaking News / Labour Market Impacts
- Companies, societies, co-operatives now able to meet electronically (Click Here)
- Commercial electricity consumption plummets across B.C. during COVID-19 pandemic (Click Here)
- Pandemic drags down employment (Click Here)
- Women disproportionally 'bearing the brunt' of coronavirus crisis, advocates say (Click Here)
- Education assistants find new ways to help students (Click Here)
- Technology loans giving more children the opportunity to learn at home (Click Here)
- WorkBC offering virtual help during COVID-19 pandemic (Click Here)
- How early-career scientists are coping with COVID-19 challenges and fears (Click Here)
- Pizza Hut is currently hiring for positions across Canada (Click Here)
- City of Vancouver lays off 300 additional employees (Click Here)
- What you need to know about federal and provincial support for B.C. businesses and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (updated) (Click Here)
- New ticketing measures to enforce Emergency Program Act orders (Click Here)
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This Week in Social Media
Please take the time to 'like' or follow:
-
.
Looking for work in BC? These businesses are hiring
(Click Here)
'We need all hands on deck': Canadian farmers struggle with labour shortfall due to COVID-19
(Click Here)
Finally, good news for renters as prices are expected to lead property decline: Don Pittis
(Click Here)
T&T Supermarket hiring positions to keep up with demand
(Click Here)
On our social media feeds we only post labour market and job search information, research and the occasional ironic observation. You can trust our
Facebook
and
Twitter
feeds. We carefully evaluate social media posts to see if they would be valuable to you.
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Community Calendar
Career Development Events
Victoria (Langford) Home Depot Virtual Job Fair
Thurs April 30
th
| 11am-1pm
Location: Victoria (Langford) Home Depot, 2400 Millstream Road, Victoria, British Columbia
Email your resume to HDCanadajobs_West@homedepot.com
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Job Postings
Career Development Employment
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To post a job here, please email:
bclmr@outlook.com
(When you write your cover letter, please mention you saw this advertisement in the BC Labour Market Report)
Employment Counsellor
*NEW*
Surrey, British Columbia
Closes: Unknown
Employment Counsellor
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia
Closes: Unknown
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Did you know?
Fascinating Facts
About 1.4 million jobless Canadians in the third week of April are not receiving the new federal emergency benefit or employment insurance. Out of that, an estimated 549,000 Canadians who lost employment before March 15 don’t qualify for EI, primarily because they haven’t worked in the last two years or didn’t work enough hours to be eligible. Another 466,000 jobless are ineligible for the $2,000-a-month CERB because they did not meet the requirement of making $5,000 in income in the last 12 months or in 2019. As well, the analysis estimates 232,000 Canadians can’t get the CERB because they quit their job recently instead of being laid off, including those leaving work because they do not feel safe.
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
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Quote of the Week
Career Inspiration
"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity."
-- Carl Jung
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