C-19 BULLETIN - April 14, 2021
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State of Emergency Extended
to Continue BC’s COVID-19 Response
The Province of British Columbia has formally extended the provincial State of Emergency, allowing health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act (EPA) to support the Province's COVID-19 pandemic response.
The State of Emergency is extended through the end of the day on April 27th to allow staff to take the necessary actions to keep British Columbians safe and manage immediate concerns and COVID-19 outbreaks.
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Indoor Dining Ban Likely to be Extended
Last night, ABLE BC sent an urgent update advising it's highly likely that the current ban on indoor dining will be extended at least until after the May long weekend.
While government has not yet announced anything publicly, ABLE BC, BC Restaurants & Foodservices Association, and Restaurants Canada met yesterday with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Brian Emerson and heard this information directly from them.
We understand extending the ban on indoor dining is incredibly frustrating and we don't have all the details yet. We'll get them for you as soon as possible, but in the meantime ABLE BC wanted to ensure you have as much notice as possible so you can plan accordingly.
Since sending out their update last night, ABLE BC has received many emails from industry about the inherent unfairness of penalizing our sector once again.
As you well know, our industry has done everything possible to have the right protocols in place to keep staff and customers safe. It's one of the reasons we've been the only province in Canada to keep indoor dining open. But according to Dr. Henry, the new COVID variants are significantly more transmissible and her data suggests indoor dining is no longer safe at this time.
To be clear though, Dr. Henry has repeatedly said that this isn't the fault of the hospitality industry. It has more to do with the social networks of customers and staff, who inadvertently bring the virus in with them.
The only good news is that we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Henry has said that by June there will be enough vaccine in BC to vaccinate everyone. She anticipates that by June, we'll be in a very different place and able to relax many public health protocols by then. We just need to make it through to then.
We know this order comes with catastrophic financial consequences for our industry. ABLE BC has already opened conversations with government about the need for additional financial support for our industry caused by this extended ban. The recently announced Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grants of up to $10,000 were based on the projected need for the 'Circuit Breaker' public orders set to expire on April 19. We know they they are inadequate to support members for the duration of this extended ban.
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Coalition Expresses Concern to Labour Minister Regarding Mandatory Paid Leave for Vaccinations
Following a meeting last week with Labour Minister Harry Bains, the Coalition of BC Businesses (membership includes TIABC and several of our tourism & hospitality sector association partners), sent a letter reiterating concerns raised regarding mandatory paid leave for employees to receive vaccinations.
The Coalition emphasized that employers in all sectors are dedicated to encouraging their employees to get vaccinated, citing it's critical to the future of our economy that we reach a level of vaccination that allows us to restore operations and return to some measure of normalcy. The Coalition also acknowledged that many workers are reluctant to take unpaid time to get vaccinated. However, with respect to mandatory paid leave for vaccinations, the Coalition expressed a number of concerns:
- Many sectors, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industries, have faced significant hardship and loss of revenue. Many businesses are only able to continue operations due to the ongoing support of the federal and provincial governments. By adding new costs government would demonstrate a lack of understanding or concern about how serious the situation is.
- Many of these industries have the flexibility to adjust schedules to the degree that employees can be given adequate time to get a vaccination, without having to reduce hours or otherwise miss paid time.
- Many employers already eligible for vaccination have used a variety of ways to encourage their employees to get the vaccination. Some have provided paid time off while others have chosen other ways to encourage vaccination. This flexibility is important to allow employers to work with their employees to secure the best possible outcome.
Read full letter to Minister Bains here
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Applications for Circuit Breaker Business Grant Open
Eligible bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres can apply for the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant to help support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant will provide affected businesses with one-time funding to help with expenses like rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance and utilities. It can also help cover unexpected costs, such as the purchase of perishable goods, that resulted from COVID-19 restrictions.
Businesses affected by the March 30, 2021, provincial health orders will be eligible to receive between $1,000 and $10,000 in grant funding.
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In the fourth edition of Smart Borders, the focus is on multi-modal perspectives for industry recovery.
In particular, this issue reviews the outcomes of the webinar on safe travel resumption (February 26, 2021) and outlines concrete proposals for three modes of transportation: air, land, and maritime travel.
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Tell Us Your Story - Deadline Extended
A growing coalition of tourism and hospitality businesses and sectors from around the province is adding its voice to a BC version of the “Hardest Hit” campaign to compel federal and provincial governments to work with our sector on a restart plan that includes the lifting of travel restrictions for immunized people and for those that have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.
As part of our advocacy efforts, we’re aiming to collect information in the form of stories from businesses like yours to inform government on the extent of the impact that travel restrictions have had on the visitor economy since the start of the pandemic.
We encourage you to write your story using the format (template) below to a maximum of two pages. Be as candid as you feel comfortable. By telling your story, you give us permission to share the information with government. We may also call on you to tell your story through social and/or traditional media channels, as well as via industry communiques.
Background: Business name; location/s in BC; date established; ownership structure; # of full and/or part-time employees.
Primary Customers: Where your customers are from; demographics; who your booking partners are; what primary marketing channels you use.
Revenue Base: State pre and post-COVID revenues (actual or range & % drop); how much longer you can afford to remain in operation; support programs you’ve applied for and either received or been rejected (state reasons for rejection).
Tourism Supply Chain: List other tourism businesses or other sectors that you work with and how your business supports these enterprises.
Government Decisions: State how federal and/or provincial government orders, directives and measures have affected your business; provide recommendations on what government can do differently or better to lessen the impact on your business.
Community Contribution: Illustrate why your business is a key part of your community and how travel restrictions have impacted you, your employees, your business in general, as well as the community you call home.
Personal Implications: Illustrate the ways the pandemic has affected you personally, professionally, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.
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Did You Attend the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference?
Thank you again for all those who joined us for our 2021 Tourism & Hospitality Conference.
We would love to hear from you! Below is a post-event survey that we hope you’ll fill out with honest answers and comments. Plus, there is a chance to win an amazing prize!
Get the chance to share your story across BC! WestCoastTraveller.com and Black Press Media will work with the winner to create a story about their business or organization. The story will appear across Black Press Media's British Columbia network and on WestCoastTraveller.com – a total value of $10,000.
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COVID Business 'Pulse Check' Survey
With new COVID restrictions, the BC Chamber of Commerce is launching a COVID-19 Pulse Check Survey to see how your business is impacted and what supports you need in this critical time.
Your feedback to this survey is essential to inform our understanding of the most pressing impacts you are experiencing and what can be done to support your business.
Responses are confidential and personal information will not be shared.
The survey will take ~6 minutes to complete and will close on April 20th at 5PM.
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Major All-season Mountain Resort Proposed for Chilliwack
A new major all-season mountain resort with two sightseeing gondolas and approximately 11,500 acres of mountain recreation terrain has been proposed for Chilliwack through an Expression of Interest filed recently with the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development.
Read the full press release here
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Tourism Kelowna Closes Office
Staff move to working remotely
As of April 1st, Tourism Kelowna's business development, marketing, and administration staff have permanently moved to working remotely from home. This will not affect the Visitor Experience team who continue to work as usual from the Kelowna Visitor Centre promoting local businesses, serving residents, and (one day soon we hope) helping happy travellers coming to the Central Okanagan.
Closing the office was not a decision that Tourism Kelowna made lightly. Like so many tourism-related businesses, Tourism Kelowna’s operating budget continues to be significantly impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions. About 60% of their marketing funding comes from the 3% Municipal & Regional District Tax that Kelowna hotel guests pay. Fewer hotel guests mean less marketing funds at a time when it is needed the most to help rebuild Kelowna’s $2 billion visitor economy.
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Moments of Levity
As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in a while it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image, or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time. Feel free to share your photos, etc. with TIABC to be published in our C-19 Bulletin each week.
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Supporting Yourself & Employees During Difficult Times
Thursday April 15th at 11:00 AM (PDT)
Now more than ever, tourism and hospitality employers need help to access tools and resources to support themselves and their staff through challenging times. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA BC) has partnered with go2HR to offer a webinar designed to help.
During this webinar, attendees will gain practical tips, expert advice, insights, and resources for programs to help business owners and managers navigate staff reductions and/or lay-offs, maintain connections with employees who are laid-off, and support their own mental health and that of their employees.
Learning outcomes:
• Identify key considerations in advance of conducting staff reductions/lay-offs
• Understand how to communicate difficult news empathetically to employees
• Recognize how to remain connected with, and support, employees impacted by lay-offs or other business changes, as a result of the pandemic
• Recognize when and how to refer employees to mental health resources and access them yourself
This webinar brought to you by BC's Hub for Workplace Mental Health. An initiative of British Columbia's Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. This webinar is being co-hosted by go2HR.
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Notice of Boating BC
Special General Meeting
April 16th 10am (PDT)
Boating BC is updating its Constitution and Bylaws to reflect more contemporary language, best practices and to reflect who Boating BC is today as an association.
This link to the proposed changes for your review and approval at the upcoming meeting is included. This is a free, members-only event. Please login, select the ticket quantity, then click 'register' for the event here.
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Tips for Safely Restarting your Tourism Facility
after Hibernation
April 20th from 9:00am to 10:30am (PDT)
The Vancouver Tourism Facility Managers Association is pleased to invite you to its first event of 2021 with Jim Mandeville, Senior Project Manager Large Loss North America for First On Site and Jason McGonigle Principal Environmental Health & Safety Group at Golder.
“Our modern structures — especially large ones — are designed to be lived in. And when they’re not being lived in … or are not being used, or used to their full potential, they can get a little bit achy and they could start to have some problems.”
In tourism and hospitality parts of, or entire buildings may have been shut down or put in hibernation.
As we start to look forward to a gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions it is important to consider taking some preventative steps to avoid problems when recommissioning your building.
Jim will present on steps you can take to avoid, leaks, clogged drains and catch basins, building structural issues and stagnant water might require special legionella management.
We will follow up the presentation with a Q&A session with our members offering you the opportunity to do a deeper dive on specific areas of interest.
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TIABC CEO, Walt Judas and BCHA President & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett will discuss the state of the hospitality and tourism industry and provide an update on advocacy efforts.
The webinar will be 45 minutes in length with a 15 minute open forum for questions.
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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 info@tiabc.ca. |
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