C-19 BULLETIN - February 3, 2021
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BC Government Launches
New Grant Program for Businesses
Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
The new Launch Online Grant program is designed to help over 1,500 eligible small- and medium-sized BC businesses adapt to changes in consumer behaviour and pivot to market their products online.
The BC government is investing $12 million to help businesses launch or upgrade an online store that will provide the platform they need to increase their sales revenues, become more competitive and grow. Up to 25% of the program funds will be reserved for regional and Indigenous businesses.
People have increased their reliance on online shopping with over $305 billion in e-commerce sales in Canada in 2019. E-commerce sales are projected to have doubled through 2020 and are expected to increase further in 2021.
These grants will provide business owners, including those in hard-hit sectors such as retail, tourism and restaurants with up to $7,500 to build or improve their online store and promote BuyBC at a local, national and international level.
Grant recipients can use the funding for a variety of online-related expenses, including pictures, creating an online inventory system, advertising costs, subscription costs of an e-commerce platform and training staff to manage the website.
As part of the program, successful applicants must use one or more local BC service providers to complete their online store. Through this model, the grant funding can be reinvested in BC-based marketing and technology companies to generate revenues for local companies and help secure and grow jobs.
The Launch Online Grant program is part of BC’s $10-billion COVID-19 response, which includes StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan — a strategy that protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting businesses and communities.
Learn more at:
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Transcript From Today's News Conference with Minister Kahlon
Minister Responds to Questions on New Initiative & Recovery Grant Program
Reporter: My question doesn't relate to this online program but it does relate to small and medium-sized businesses. I'm thinking of some, for example, a restaurant in Victoria that opened during the pandemic that had committed and planned to open prior to the pandemic but it actually opened in May. It is not eligible for the small or medium-sized grants, nor is it eligible for the federal grants or subsidies for wages or rent. What do you say to them? Is there any relief coming because they are not getting the grants available to other businesses, yet they are facing the same challenges during the pandemic.
Min. Kahlon: I appreciate that and I know it is a challenge for many businesses throughout this Province. In particular those in hospitality and the restaurant business. A lot of the supports that we have provided have been going out to many businesses. Some of the smaller businesses are seeing benefits from some of the announcements. We lowered the price for liquor by 25% to help those restaurants. We have cut property taxes so that it helps lower some of the overhead. So yeah, all those businesses have seen some benefits.I understand some programs are not available to then at this point, but we have adjusted our small business grant program to allow for businesses that have been operating for up to 18 months of when they have applied to be eligible for that program.
So we are trying to guide as many of those businesses as we can to the programs. There are some programs that are available to them and some because we need to show that they are viable businesses and show they have a history of operating. It precludes them from some of those programs, but we are certainly looking at ways to continue to support as many businesses as we can.
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State of Emergency Extended
to Continue BC’s COVID-19 Response
The Province 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 February 16th, 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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Mandatory Requirements
for Air Travellers Arriving in Canada
For travellers
All hotels will be located near one of the four Canadian airports currently accepting international flights:
- Vancouver International Airport
- Calgary International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
A full list of hotels will be available shortly. This new 3-day accommodation requirement will be mandatory for all air travellers arriving in Canada, with some limited exceptions.
For hotels
Selection criteria will be shared in the coming days for inclusion on the list of hotels. To be considered, hotels must be located near one of the four Canadian airports accepting international flights. The application process will be posted soon and will list all the requirements. Interested hotels may submit applications as soon as the process opens. Please visit this web page regularly for updates.
For more details, visit:
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The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST) delivers the BC Employer Training Grant program (ETG) to help employers recruit and retain employees by providing them with the skills training they need for employment or to adapt to the changing requirements of jobs. The ETG is funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement (WDA).
In addition to existing ETG streams, AEST recently expanded the program to include two new streams: the C19 Impacted Worker Training Stream and the Persons with Disabilities Training Stream.
Both new streams are now open to applications. For information about the ETG, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit WorkBC at workbc.ca/bcemployertraininggrant.
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C19 Impacted Worker Training Stream: This stream provides funding to train employees who are, or were, working in sectors most impacted by COVID-19
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Persons with Disabilities Training Stream: This stream provides funding for skills training and other supports for Persons with Disabilities of up to $20,000 per employee, per fiscal year.
Both streams are now open to training that starts before March 31, 2021
Learn more at:
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go2HR's SECOR Program Assists Businesses with Safety Plans and Saving Money
Small tourism and hospitality businesses with fewer than 20 employees can take advantage of a special program that go2HR offers, the Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) program, which is tailored specifically to their unique needs. Why invest? Safety has never been more critical from a workplace standpoint and going above and beyond the requirements will have positive business outcomes. What’s more, SECOR certified employers can see a 75% reduction on their base WorkSafeBC premiums, up to a maximum of $1,000.
Learn more at:
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Let's Flatten That Local Curve! #SquishItFernie
Data has indicated that many cases of COVID transmission are a result of local social gatherings that are going against the current PHO order and the challenges of following, or being able to follow, the orders when living in housing where multiple singles are sharing living quarters together.
A new Fernie website aims to provide information to help this audience with understanding the current restrictions, where to get assistance and information, how to have household conversations and setting expectations, what isolation means and more. The site also includes Bill, a character created by the local Program Manager of the Elk Valley Medical Staff Association.
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Destination Greater Victoria
Achieves Carbon Neutral Designation
Destination Greater Victoria has achieved a Carbon Neutral designation from leading climate advisory services company, Offsetters. It's the first major destination marketing organization or convention and visitors’ bureau in North America to reach this milestone. This official designation follows previous work by Destination Greater Victoria to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
To attain the Carbon Neutral designation, Destination Greater Victoria worked closely with Offsetters, Canada’s leading carbon management solutions provider. The purpose of this relationship was to understand Destination Greater Victoria’s total carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce them as much as possible and offset the difference by contributing to a carbon offset project that prevents the equivalent amount of emissions from being released into the atmosphere. Destination Greater Victoria offset its flight emissions for 2018 and 2019, and moved to offsetting all material emissions in 2020, achieving Carbon Neutral status for 2021. Offsetters’ projects are verified and validated by third parties to ensure that the emission reductions are real, additional and permanent.
Read the full media release here
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Leger Surveys Canadians About Their Support for Travel Bans and Vaccination Plans
Leger released their bi-weekly survey results after going into field last week immediately after Prime Minister Trudeau announced new travel restrictions/impositions on Canadian travellers.
Travel Ban
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86% of Canadians support the recently announced new federal rules and restrictions regarding international travel. Support for the new rules is highest in Quebec (91%) and lowest in Alberta (76%). Of the age groups, 18 to 34 year olds are least supportive (81%) compared to those aged 55 and older (92%).
COVID Vaccine
- The proportion of Canadians intending to get vaccinated remained virtually unchanged from several weeks ago at 70%. Vaccination intentions are lowest in Alberta (63%) and on the Prairies (64%) and highest in Atlantic Canada (77%) and Quebec (73%). Canadians under the age of 55 are less likely to say they will get vaccinated (63%) compared to those aged 55+ (81%).
- Americans still have a long way to go in the vaccine campaign with only 56% saying they will get vaccinated, but that is an increase of two points from two weeks ago.
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Canadians appear more likely to say they will wait for awhile before getting vaccinated with 32% saying they will wait. This is an increase of five points from two weeks ago.
View the full report here
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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.
(If you don't get the joke about this polar bear, simply Google Bernie Sanders memes for a good chuckle)
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BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
TIABC and the BC Hotel Association will be co-hosting the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference (virtually) during the week of March 8th to 12th.
Stay tuned for more details soon.
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Virtual BC Wine Industry Insight Conference 2021
Thursday, March 18th
Mark your calendars for the 2021 BC Wine Industry Insight Conference to be held virtually this year.
Wine Growers British Columbia along with the BC Wine Grape Council, BC Grapegrowers' Association and the BC Wine Authority are once again coming together to provide a forum covering industry-related topics, issues, policies and opportunities that impact your business operations.
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Please join the Tourism Vancouver team for a live, two-part webinar:
1) Business Intelligence – Market and Consumer Insights
Time: 10:00 am to 10:45 am
This session will focus on:
- Current destination performance
- Key indicators of forward-looking demand
- Available traveller research highlights
Presented by: Eugene Chu, Manager, Research & Business Analytics
2) Rebuilding Demand for Vancouver
Time: 10:45 am to 11:30 am
This session will focus on:
- Key insights informing our marketing plans
- Creative concept and upcoming promotional activities
- How your business can align and benefit from upcoming promotions
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Online Training for Businesses
The Building Resilience to Thrive online training program will offer relief to businesses and help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19.
The Building Resilience to Thrive online training program will offer relief to businesses and help mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching them how to adapt their business models, re-engage their customers and adjust their workplace cultures. Developed in partnership with the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, this program will have one hour seminars once per week for 6 weeks and will be offered three times until the end of March 2021.
Program curriculum will focus on the three key themes of Strive, Build, and Create.
Seminar topics will be:
- Power of Context – Unconscious Bias
- Emotional Intelligence
- The Power of Coaching in Business
- Hire and manage a diverse team
- Improve experiences for colleagues and customers
- Adapt your service strategy for better outcomes
The final program will be offered on the following date:
Wednesdays at 11am-12pm PST, February 24th to March 31st
Registration for Cohort 3 closes on February 18th at 4pm
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Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country is hosting a virtual town hall discussion with the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. They look forward to covering topics of high interest in the community, and across the country, such as how federal investments are supporting social, green and public transit infrastructure.
Wednesday, February 10th at 2:00pm PT
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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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