Thank-you to Our Newsletter Sponsor, Excel Career College, for helping make this newsletter edition possible.
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I’m grateful to provide a few updates on what the Chamber has been up to in the last week and to recognize and thank the Chamber members and businesses who have volunteered their time to be guests on our Zoom calls. Thanks goes out to Glenda Pews and Jeanette Francis from Payworks for taking calls today.
Payworks is a payroll company and a benefit that is available to Chamber members.
Thanks too, to Donna Cloutier,
Cloutier Matthews, for providing information and expertise in the income tax and small business realm. Cloutier Matthews has resources for small business on their site and tools to assist with spreadsheet creation etc. They are working to have the new 75%
wage subsidy up and running on their site soon.
And thank-you to
WorkBC, for delivering insights into what’s happening on the employee-employer side of things. There are many jobs becoming available in the Comox Valley on a daily basis. To find out more information,
check out their website.
Recently the Chamber wrote a letter to Minister Carole James outlining areas we thought the provincial government could address to make things easier for small business. We will be posting those on our Facebook page and on our website. Here’s a quick summary:
1. Provide business rent assistance
2. Allow for deferred municipal property tax payments and cover a portion
3. Freeze the scheduled minimum wage increase for 6 months
4. No constructive dismissal claims for COVID-19 related layoffs
5. An EHT payment holiday, not just a deferment, for the first 6 months
6. Ensure financial and regulatory relief/support for Credit Unions
7. Provide Funding to Assist Businesses setting up remote working or online commerce
8. Revise the Government’s entities’ accounts payable policy
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HUGE shout out to our existing and renewing members!!! We couldn’t do this without you! Your investment in our Chamber provides us with the resources we need in times like this. Your membership allows us to be “boots on the ground” for our business community, advocating for you and providing tools to move forward, especially in uncertain times.
From all of us at the Chamber, the Board of Directors, the staff and myself – we say THANK YOU!
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It may seem quiet, but if you listen closely, there's a hum.
Behind closed doors, kitchens are cooking, artists are creating, instructors are teaching, makers are making.
Things may have changed, but we're resilient, we've found new ways to connect with one another.
This initiative was developed by the
Jim Pattison Broadcast Group and
Lift Interactive, to help small businesses communicate what they are doing to pull through the crisis.
The
Comox Valley Chamber is excited to be a part of this initiative, along with
the Eagle 97.3, to help our local business community connect with others locally and regionally. Things That Are Open provides an opportunity for all local businesses to advertise that they are open and more importantly,
how they are open.
Add your business to the directory, and tell us what you're doing to stay open during the COVID-19 crisis. Your community is here and ready to help.
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The Chamber's Weekly Zoom Meetings
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Join us each week on Thursday for a virtual meeting, featuring a different guest and topic. Next week, we'll have
Daniel Kasun from MNP's HR Consulting practice, with a short presentation on HR tips during COVID-19. There will be an opportunity to ask questions after his presentation. Kasun's presentation will cover:
- What are some general human resources considerations I should be thinking about to manage by business through COVID-19?
- How can I support my employees to be productive while working from home?
- If I need to lay off or terminate employees, what are some best practices?
Next Zoom meeting:
Thursday, April 23 from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
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Small Business BC Official COVID-19 Support Centre
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To help B.C. businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the B.C. government, through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness and the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, have partnered with Small Business BC (SBBC) to launch a new B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service.
It will serve as a single point of contact for businesses throughout the province looking for information on resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting today, advisors are available Monday to Friday, from 8 am - 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm at 1-833-254-4357.
SBBC’s website includes announcements from industry and community partners, as well as a variety of resources, including webinars and practical tools.
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CERB Eligibility Requirements Amended
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The Prime Minister announced on Wednesday, April 15, more flexible rules for the CERB.
These new eligibility requirements will mean that more people will be eligible to receive the CERB. The changes will benefit:
- Those who have recently run out of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits since Jan. 1
- Seasonal workers who can't find work because of COVID-19
- People who make less than $1,000 a month due to reduced work hours
The Prime Minister also announced a wage boost for essential workers who make less than $2,500 a month, including those working in long-term care facilities for the elderly.
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Eligibility Requirements for CEBA Updated
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The Prime Minister announced today, expanded the eligibility for the
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to businesses with payrolls as low as $20K and as high as $1.5M.
Business that spent between $20,000 and $1.5-million in total payroll in 2019 will now be eligible to receive a loan through the program. Previously, those thresholds were set at $50,000 and $1-million respectively.
“This is money entrepreneurs and employers can use to cover operational costs and help with other immediate needs,” Trudeau said.
To date, more than 195,000 loans have been approved through this program, the prime minister said, pegging the credit doled out so far at more than $7.5 billion.
The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
Business owners can apply for support from the Canada Emergency Business Account through their banks and credit unions.
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The Digital Economy Response Program (DER3)
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In partnership with
Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET),
Innovation Island Technology Association (IITA) is honoured to launch
The Digital Economy Response Program (DER3).
DER3 aims to tackle the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the communities we serve. It is a
free service and program and is open to individuals or businesses living or working on Vancouver Island, north of the Malahat, on the Sunshine Coast, or Gulf Islands. Please note that companies do not have to be tech companies to apply for this program. This is for any small or medium sized business of any type.
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Many of you have reached out asking for help and guidance during these trying times.
We’re listening.
Two weeks ago, we started conducting ‘pulse check’ surveys on
BCMindreader.com to find out how businesses are faring in the age of COVID-19, and how your needs are evolving.
This information will inform ongoing recommendations to government and, perhaps more importantly, help track the efficacy of government programs and initiatives as they roll out.
Our previous COVID-19 Pulse Check survey saw close to 2000 responses and informed many of the existing supports for business already put forth by the BC government.
This is your opportunity to be heard on an ongoing basis and get the support you need.
Take our latest COVID-19 Pulse Check Survey.
We will keep you informed as the results come in, please reach out if you have any questions.
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We could not provide our advocacy, business resources, and services for business in the Comox Valley without the support of our members. Thank you to the members who have renewed their memberships this month:
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Comox Valley Water Treatment Project
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Comox Valley Regional District has provided an update on
the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project
. The update includes important information about health and safety measures on the work site to remain compliant with Provincial direction and new WorkSafeBC requirements, in the effort to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and keep our workers and community safe. [
VIEW UPDATE
]
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Residents are strongly encouraged to practice the recommended two-meter physical distancing, though at this time this is not an enforceable order. Residents are urged to model this behaviour themselves and educate others on the need to practice it as well. Residents who are aware of gatherings of over 50 people, have concerns with businesses operating contrary to the Provincial Orders, or general social distancing concerns should contact their local government bylaw office or Island Health at
publichealth@viha.ca
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Thank you for staying in touch with The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber sends a regularly scheduled Newsletter every second Thursday. From time to time, we will also send emails about important issues facing the business and/or local community, surveys, and information about upcoming events and E-Blasts. You may unsubscribe at any time.
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