Click Here to Download Guide to Accessing COVID-19 Supports for British Columbians

1. Island Health updates: https://www.islandhealth.ca/news/news-releases
2. BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
3. BC Government News website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/
4.  Government of Canada Public Health Agency: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html
5. BC Hydro COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program: https://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2020/covid-19-updates.html
6. MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Paul Manly and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Bowinn Ma have also published useful information on public health orders and the financial supports available to businesses, families, and individuals

In recent weeks, the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic on our healthcare and economic systems has received no shortage of commentary. Slightly less remarked, on but no less important, are the social and psychological effects of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Most acutely, workers on the front lines of the pandemic have been put in a position that is bound to strain both their mental and physical health. Healthcare providers have been selflessly risking their lives to save others and have directly witnessed the human costs of the pandemic. Those with a family member or friend battling COVID-19 in hospital have been forced to deal with a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty. Others are in the process of grieving after losing a loved one to the disease.

On a societal level, there are very real psychological costs to the social distancing measures needed to flatten the curve. It is commonly said that humans are a social species by nature, meaning we evolved to live in close contact with others in tight knit social groups. Physical distancing measures work directly against our ingrained sociability by disrupting the meaningful in-person social interactions that form an invaluable part of our lives. Over the past six weeks many Canadians will have likely spent more time alone than at any time during the past six years. While some may find the solitude and isolation to be rejuvenating, others may find that these same situations give rise to feelings of loneliness.

Like many other highly developed countries, the structure of Canadian society poses an unprecedented challenge to our ability to collectively navigate the social consequences of the novel coronavirus. More Canadians now live alone than ever before, making thousands of people vulnerable to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Elderly Canadians and those without the tools to connect with others virtually will find it particularly difficult to combat these emotions.

Of course, physical isolation is not the only source of stress that will challenge people’s mental health throughout the pandemic. For many, reduced income will be a source of profound anxiety and stress as they worry about how they are going to make ends meet. Beyond merely providing people with economic security, work also brings meaning to people’s lives and is a critical part our identities. Without the constant of steady employment, millions of Canadians will likely be experiencing a sense of dislocation and aimlessness.

And although the physical symptoms of coronavirus may discriminate by age, its effects on people’s mental health effects do not. Children and young adults are also vulnerable to depression and anxiety brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. For youth already dealing with mental health issues, the closure of schools has meant the loss of an important coping mechanism. Grade 12 students are likely wondering how the pandemic will impact their senior year while thousands of young adults are worried about the job market they will be graduating into.

Given the widespread impact of the pandemic on our mental and physical health, this moment demands unprecedented levels of social solidarity from all of us. Many have already risen to the challenge in what some have called the care-mongering movement. Facebook groups allowing people to arrange to deliver groceries to seniors or those in self-isolation were formed just days after the announcement of social distancing measures. Island medical students were quick to offer childcare services to health care workers battling the pandemic on the frontlines. Zoom , Skype or Facetime calls to check in on friends and family have become a regular occurrence. But as the pandemic drags on and more of us get accustomed to our new social reality, we need to ensure that we remain unwavering in our commitment to others. We need to continue to keep the elderly and those living alone emotionally connected to the outside world. We must to continue to respond to requests from charities and community-based organizations when they are made. And we need to continue to check in on vulnerable friends and family members to give them the support they need.

Nonetheless, despite the inspiring levels of social solidarity shown throughout the pandemic, local communities cannot be expected to bear the burden of COVID-19’s social ramifications on their own. It is the responsibility of the government to provide people with the mental health resources they need for the duration of this crisis. To date, governments across Canada and organizations focused on delivering healthcare have stepped up to migrate existing services online and to provide new services where required. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues as a result of the pandemic numerous external supports are available. No one is alone – we are all in this together.

Mental Health Supports During Covid-19

1) Resources Available for anyone

Bc211

Bc211 is a province-wide information and referral service that receives calls from those interested in helping seniors with basic needs such as grocery shopping, pharmacy drop-offs and check-ins. To register for the program, please visit the BC211 website.

BounceBack

Bounceback is a free program which assists adults and youth 15+ dealing with anxiety and depression by giving them the skills and strategies to manage these issues. British Columbians can register for free by visiting the BounceBack website.

Child and Youth Teams

The Ministry of Children and Family development is offering intake services and mental health counselling online and through the phone. To access these services please call your closest Child and Youth Mental Health clinic.

Foundry Virtual Clinic

Foundry is providing youth aged 12-24 with counselling, peer support, primary care, and family support through voice calls, video, and chat. Those interested in accessing these services should visit the Foundry website.

Free Online Mental Health First Aid

The BC Psychological Association is offering mental health support to any BC resident who is experiencing stress, anxiety, or uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization will provide 30 minute telephone consultations to equip people with skills and strategies needed to manage mental stress induced by the crisis.

Here2Talk

Here2Talk provides all students currently registered in a BC post-secondary institution with access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services. These resources are available via app, phone, and the web, and can be accessed by visiting the Here2Talk website.

Living Life to the Full

Living Life to the Full is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based course designed to give people the skills needed to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. The 8-week course is led by a trained facilitator and can be accessed through the Living Life to the Full webpage.

VictimLink BC

VictimLink BC provides immediate 24/7 support to victims of family or sexual violence through the phone. You can call 1-800-563-0808 or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca. VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca to get help.

Virtual Counselling Services

Virtual community counselling is available for individuals or groups at low or no cost through the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Y Mind

Offered through the YMCA, Y mind is a seven-week mindfulness program targeted at young adults aged 18-30 experiencing depression and anxiety. Those interested in learning more should visit the BC YMCA website.

Youthspace

Youthspace offers online crisis & emotional support chat for those under 30 years old. They’re open every night from 18:00 to 24:00 PST. For more information, please visit the Youthspace website.

Wellness Together Canada

The federal government has launched Wellness Together Canada to provide Canadians with mental health support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool gives users access to free online resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals. Please visit the Wellness Together Canada website to find out more. 

2) Support for Indigenous Peoples

To find out how to access the numerous support services available to indigenous peoples throughout the COVID-19 pandemic please consult the information provided by the First Nations Health Authority.

3) Supports available to Frontline Healthcare Workers

Mobile Response Team

Frontline healthcare workers dealing with mental health challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are able to get support through the mobile response team (MRT). To access these supports healthcare workers can dial 1-888-686-3032 or email MRT@phsa.ca.

Canadian Mental Health Association Online Resource Hub

The BC Division of the CMHA is planning to provide healthcare workers with an expanded online resource hub which will give them strategies and techniques to improve their mental health and well-being. This resource will be launched April 20, 2020.

Virtual Peer Support Service

The CMHA is planning to launch a phone and text-based peer support service in May 2020 to provide emotional support to healthcare workers. The service will be staffed by former long-term care and home support workers.

3) A List of Useful Articles and Other Resources

• Advice from Anxiety Canada on what to do if you’re anxious or worried about COVID-19
• Advice from BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services on how to support your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Article from Psychology Today on how to stay emotionally healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic
• A Guide on how to live with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty
• Apps to support mental well-being
  • Headspace, Ten Percent Happier, Waking Up, Insight Timer, Prana Breath, Healthy Minds

If you are experiencing thoughts of distress, despair, or suicide call the CrisisCentre hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). If you need emotional support or information about other mental health related resources you can call 310-6789. Indigenous peoples can phone 1-800-588-8717 to access culturally safe crisis support.

Over the last two weeks governments across Canada have introduced some of the most far reaching and ambitious programs in recent memory to deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19. The policymakers and civil servants behind these supports deserve to be commended for the speed at which they have acted and for their ingenuity. Despite these unprecedented government interventions into the economy it is becoming increasingly clear that the measures introduced so far are not enough. Many businesses are slipping through the cracks of the available supports and are struggling to make ends meet.

Statistics released by the BC Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on the scale of the economic devastation brought about by COVID-19 are staggering. Two-thirds of the 1,900 businesses polled by the BCC have experienced at least a 50% decrease in revenue and over half are worried that they will face bankruptcy or be unable to resume operations when the crisis subsides. Almost 40 percent of independent businesses surveyed by the CFIB have said that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy will not help them and 56% said that they have no fiscal capacity to take on new debt. These statistics released by business advocacy groups are consistent with the daily emails my office has received informing us that the existing measures are not enough. Messages received by my constituency office, ongoing conversations with small businesses and reports from the media highlight gaps in the existing programs. Some of the gaps are outlined below.

Eligibility for the Canada Emergency Business Account

The Canada Emergency Business Account is open to businesses with a total payroll between $50,000.00 and $1,000,000.00 in 2019. However, there are many small businesses with 10 to 20 employees whose payroll exceeds the program’s upper limit. For instance, small health, technology and manufacturing companies whose growth the province has been trying to cultivate will be particularly hard hit by the program’s restrictions.

BC Hydro Small Business Credit

The BC Hydro Small Business Tax Credit defines “small business” as those that qualify for their Small General Service Rate. The effect of this restriction is that numerous businesses with narrow profit margins that use high amounts of electricity (i.e. local restaurants using the medium general service rate) will not be eligible for the benefit. Although BC Hydro does allow payments to be deferred, many of these bills will be due at precisely the same time when businesses will be trying to recover from the crisis.

Restrictions in the Wage Subsidy

The original structure of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy worked against small businesses who had experienced substantial declines in revenue but were still trying to stay open to provide services to people. Eligibility requirements originally restricted applications to businesses that have experienced at least a 30% drop in revenue when comparing one month this year to same month last year. This restriction would have meant that businesses whose revenue had decreased by 20% or even 29% would not qualify for the subsidy. The direct effects of restricting the availability of the program would have been further layoffs of workers which defeats the announced goal of the support. As it stands, within the foodservice industry 7 out of 10 businesses will continue to reduce staff hours or lay off more employees if their current situation does not improve. Recently announced changes to the bill will allow businesses to qualify for the subsidy if they can demonstrate a 15 percent drop in revenue in March. Companies will also be permitted use January or February as their base line in certain situations. These changes to the legislation show that the government is listening to business owners. However, continued monitoring is needed to determine if they adequately address the bill’s original flaws.

Profit margins and the use of a ‘one-size fits all’ approach

For many small businesses with narrow profit margins, the difference between remaining viable and facing insolvency is extremely thin, making a substantial decline in revenue potentially devastating. Given the financial position of many small businesses, the measures introduced so far may not be enough to keep them afloat. While the wage subsidy does offer some support, many businesses still have substantial fixed costs (i.e. rent, utilities). These businesses are seeing reduced revenue due to disruption in their supply chains and decreased demand in the economy. Furthermore, numerous already overextended business owners feel that they don’t have the fiscal capacity to take out additional loans. The structure of the existing programs also does little to support small businesses reliant on cyclical or seasonally dependent revenue who have recently seen their sales dry up. For businesses in this position tax deferrals or loans will become difficult to finance with their primary revenue source having evaporated.

Looking Ahead

Going forward, both the provincial and federal government will need to work together to quickly address the gaps in support measures introduced so far. Solutions which have been floated by business groups include: direct payments to business (especially those hardest-hit by the crisis), further reductions in taxes, and supports for businesses unable to pay rent. Other countries may provide models for how to respond as well. Both Norway and Demark have introduced schemes to help companies experiencing revenue losses to pay their fixed costs. Switzerland has launched a program where the small business can apply for interest free loans of up to 10 percent of their annual revenue (SFr500,000 maximum) which are fully backed by the government.

Right now, the current collapse in economic activity is happening at an unprecedented pace. Nearly one quarter of the businesses surveyed by the CFIB stated that they will be unable to make it through the next month without additional support. Within the foodservice industry almost 10 percent of restaurants have already closed and an additional 18 per cent could permanently close by the end of April if current conditions persist. Time is of the essence in getting businesses the support they need.

By expanding the available support programs for small businesses, governments will be reducing the amount of economic hardship experienced by countless numbers of people. Supporting hard-hit businesses will be an incredibly expensive in the short-term. There are major long-term benefits to ensuring that businesses are able to remain operational. Keeping more small businesses solvent throughout the pandemic will help to prevent businesses and workers from needing to re-establish their niches in the economy after the crisis abates. By acting now to support small businesses, governments will be saving central pillars within our communities. These businesses help to make our communities feel like home by providing us with a sense of place and identity. Given the importance of small businesses to our economy and communities, governments must take steps to ensure these businesses are able to emerge successfully from this crisis.

Breaking the chain of transmission of COVID-19 poses an enormous challenge for society on multiple fronts. While we should do everything we can to ‘flatten the curve’, the measures most effective at easing the burden on our public health system also carry heavy economic costs. Social distancing has induced both supply and demand side shocks to the economy by reducing the productive capacity of firms and consumer spending. Nearly every economic sector in BC has been affected by the decrease in economic activity, from big businesses engaged in large-scale projects to small businesses who are the lifeblood of the economy and a pillar in local communities. The downstream effects of the widespread economic disruption brought by efforts to tackle COVID-19 has been mass layoffs of workers, placing many in a precarious economic position. Going forwards, families, businesses, and individuals dealing with sudden economic hardship will require assistance to help them make ends meet.

The unprecedented economic challenge brought by COVID-19 demands a bold and aggressive response from all levels of government. In the last week both the federal and provincial governments have stepped up to introduce measures designed to assist individuals and businesses struggling with the economic fallout of COVID-19. The following is a list of the supports introduced by each government and how to access them. This page will continually be updated for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic as new supports are announced and more information becomes available on the existing programs.

Resources for Individuals:

Maintaining Cash Flow

• Federal Programs
• The Canada Emergency Response Benefit
• The CERB will provide taxable payments of $2,000 per month ($500 per week) for up to 4 months. The benefit will be available to workers:
  • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
  • Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job or did not apply for, nor receive, CERB or EI benefits from Service Canada for the same eligibility period
  • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application from one or more of employment income, self-employment income, provincial or federal benefitss related to maternity or paternity leave; and
  • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income, or provincial or federal benefits related to maternity or paternity leave for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.
• Eligibility periods are fixed in 4-week periods.
  • If your situation continues, you can re-apply for CERB for multiple 4-week periods, to a maximum of 16 weeks (4 periods)
  • For subsequent benefit periods,  you are eligible if the scenarios outlined above have contuined
• There are two ways to apply:
  • Online with CRA My Account
  • Over the phone with an automated phone service
• The CERB is paid by direct deposit or by cheque if your direct deposit information is not on file.
• After you apply, you should get your payment in 3 business days if you signed up for direct deposit. If you haven’t, you should get it in about 10 business days.
• Right now, it does not matter if you do not have the documents necessary to prove your income status. You will not be asked for any documents needed to verify your income status. However, the government will eventually check the veracity of the claims to protect against fraud.
• If you have previously applied for EI but are eligible for the CERB your claims will be rerouted so that you receive the CERB
• If you have received two payments for the CERB the government will contact you to reconcile the issue
• Employment Insurance
  • The federal government has waived the normal one week waiting period for individuals to access EI sickness benefits. The requirement to provide a medical certificate to access benefits has been waived as well
  • This measure was launched on March 15^th 2020
• Special Goods and Services Tax Credit Payments
  • A one-time special payment will be delivered through the Goods and Services Tax credit to low- and modest-income families by early May.
  • The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.
  • There is no need to apply for this payment. If you are eligible, you will get it automatically.
• Provincial Programs
• Cash Transfers
  • The BC government will distribute a tax-free $1,000 payment to British Columbians who are receiving support through the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit
  • Eligible workers include those who have been laid-off, those on sick-leave or in self-isolation, parents looking after their children while childcare centres and schools remain closed, and those caring for sick family members including the elderly and children
  • An application portal will be open soon and payments will be made in May 2020
• Provincial Tax Credits
  • The BC Climate Action Tax Credit will be expanded to provide up to 86% of British Columbians with an additional income support.
  • Eligible families of four will receive up to $564 and individuals will receive up to $218

Rent

• Through the BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS) the provincial government will provide a $300 per month supplement to eligible households with no dependents and a $500 supplement to eligible households with dependents to assist renters with low to moderate incomes dealing with income loss or reduction who do not qualify for existing rental assistance programs
  • The rent supplement will be paid directly to landlords
  • The program will be available for April, May, and June 2020. Submitting a successful application for April will result in automatic future payments for May and June. Payments should be made before the end of April to successful applications.
  • Applicants will need to (eligibility criteria):
  • Have a 2019 household income of less than $74,150 for singles and couples without dependents and $113,040 for households with dependents
    • Be receiving or eligible for EI or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and be able to provide evidence of a 25% drop or more in monthly household employment income
    • Be paying more than 30% of current household income towards rent
    • Tenants are not eligible if their rent is subsidized by any other government program which include subsidized housing, rent supplements (SAFER or RAP), Income Assistance, or Disability Assistance
    • Members of co-ops will are able to receive the benefit if they are not getting any ongoing funding from the federal government and are paying the full market housing charge
  • Applications for the supplement are now open on the BC Housing Website 
  • Once a tenant has completed the application, an email will be sent to the landlord asking them to complete the application process. After the landlord has completed their portion of the application, both the tenant and the landlord will receive a final confirmation email.
• BC Housing has temporarily suspended evictions of tenants in subsidized and affordable housing
• Tenants should pay rent wherever possible. However, the state of emergency temporarily suspends a landlord’s ability to end a tenancy if a tenant does not pay the rent in full and on time. Tenants who have not paid rent could face eviction once the state of emergency is over.
  • Tenants facing difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 crisis should consider all assistance that is available to them, including:
    • The B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers
    • Temporary Rent Supplement
    • Federal government financial supports
• The government is also placing a temporary moratorium on current and future evictions in addition to a rent freeze throughout the duration of the crisis. If a landlord gives or has already given a notice for rent increase, the increase will not come into effect until after the state of emergency is over
  • Enforcement of existing eviction notices will only proceed in cases where there are safety concerns involved
• For more information on what BC Housing is doing to support British Columbians during the pandemic please visit the BC Housing COVID-19 webpage 

Taxation

• The filing due date for 2019 income tax returns for individuals has been deferred until June 1, 2020. Any new income tax balances due, or instalments, are also being deferred until after August 31, 2020 without incurring interest or penalties

Mortgage and Debt Payments

• All six major banks in Canada have committed to allowing those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis to defer monthly mortgage payments for up to 6 months. Deferred payments are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.
  The FDA regulates these products by making sure that they do not contain any medicine that can cause cancer, hepatitis C, or any other country outside the USA, you’ll need to purchase Ivermectin at a time. Here at CURE, we believe that patients, especially in the United States, is sold in every pharmacy in the United States to buy Ivermectin: online health and wellness shops, online pharmacies and pharmacies outside the United States. As a nonprescription medication, it is available over-the-counter and can be prescribed over-the-counter for severe pain, arthritis, and certain neurological conditions. for women, men and older children, it says: for men and older children, Ivermectin may be prescribed: at the time of prescription… it should not be used in any way to treat allergen resistance because people with these conditions can not develop diabetes after receiving Ivermectin. To order Ivermectin, fill out an application form and found Safe from, this is a tedious process when a pharmacy isn’t accepting online payments due to it’s limitations. The stamp will say it has been inspected and certified by the FDA to be used for treating a serious condition? A variety of pharmaceutical treatments are approved by the FDA as a potential treatment for Covid 19. The store may have an online store is not required if you want to know how to make Ivermectin, I recommend buying it from a retail store.
  • Contact your banking institution to clarify the exact terms of the mortgage deferral (i.e. whether or not deferrals are interest free)
• All six major banks in Canada have committed to negotiating credit relief for customers on a case-by-case basis. banks may also be open to waiving certain fees or delaying payments
• Many Canadian banks are offering consumers who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 the possibility of temporarily reducing the interest rate on their credit cards. Many also offer defer payments for a period of up to six months
  • Terms and interest rates may vary depending on the bank. Contact your financial institution by using its online portal, telephone banking service or by booking an appointment to determine if you are eligible

Supports for Students

• Federal and provincial student loan payments will be suspended for six months
• No interest will accrue on federals loans throughout this period
• Canada Summer Jobs Program
• The federal government will assist private and public sector employers so that they will be allowed to:
  • Receive up to 100 percent of the provincial and territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee
  • Extend the end date for employment to February 28 2021
  • Adapt their projects and job activities
  • Hire staff on a part-time basis

Child Care

• The federal government has proposed to increase the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment amounts by $300 per child. Families can expect to receive the money during their May payment
• Eligible families will continue to receive the Affordable Child Care Benefit

 Resources for Seniors

• Minimum withdraws from Registered Retirement Income funds will be reduced by 25 percent for 2020

Other Payments

• BC Hydro
  • The COVID-19 Relief Fund will allow eligible residential customers who have experienced job loss to receive three months of free credit on their BC Hydro bill based on their average consumption. The fund also allows eligible small businesses that needed to close due to COVID-19 to have up to three months of electricity charges waived
    • Be a residential account holder and have had your account as of March 31, 2020
    • Be eligible for Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, or the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers
    • You or your spouse/partner have stopped working due to COVID-19. Examples of being unable to work:
      • Being laid off
      • Workers that remain attached to their company but are without employment income
      • Being unable to continue earning self-employment income
      • Being quarantined or sick with COVID-19
      • Taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19
      • Having children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures
    • You must be able to upload verification of eligibility, such as your approval for the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, approval for Employment Insurance, or a supporting document for your Canada Emergency Response Benefit application such as a record of employment or a closure letter from your child’s daycare
    • Your average monthly electricity consumption must not exceed 2,500 kWh
    • There is a maximum of one COVID Relief Fund bill credit per household.
    • The application form for residential customers is now open. Eligible customers can apply any time between now and June 30th 2020 to receive the credit
  • Households and individuals ineligible for the relief fund who may find it difficult to pay monthly BC Hydro bills may be able to defer payments or arrange for more flexible payment plans through the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program
  • Customers will need to call BC Hydro’s customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss bill payment options.
  • BC Hydro has established the Customer Crisis Fund (CCF) that provides support for residential customers who are facing disconnection of their BC Hydro service, despite attempting to make payments
    • Grants of up to $600 are available for customers who heat their homes with electricity and $500 for customers with non-electrically heated homes (e.g. natural gas heat)
    • To be eligible for the grant you must:
      • Be the residential account holder. Only primary residences are eligible
      • Have overdue payments and be facing disconnection. Your current bill isn’t eligible for a CCF grant if it is not overdue or if there are credits on the account
      • Have experienced a life event, within the last 12 months, that caused a temporary financial crisis.
      • Have an outstanding balance of $1,000 or less, and should have demonstrated some attempt to make payments towards your bill.
    • You may receive one CCF grant per account-holder annually (one per year). If a grant application is denied and your circumstances change, you can apply again in the same year.
    • The application form for the CCF is now open
  • Due to the fact that customers may be facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 BC Hydro has stopped disconnections for non-payment
• ICBC
  • ICBC customers who are unable to make their monthly payment due to financial hardship from the COVID-19 crisis may be able to defer payments for three months with no penalty
    • If your account is not up to date, you aren’t eligible to defer payments but ICBC will work with you to find a  solution
    • Please use the ICBC online resource tool to apply for a deferral by 6pm at least one business day before your next payment is due
  • For more information on how ICBC is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic please visit the ICBC COVID-19 webpage 

Resources for Small and Medium Sized Business:

Federal Measures

• Wage Subsidies
• The federal government is proposing to expand its wage subsidy program to cover 75% of the cost of workers’ wages for qualifying businesses for up to 3 months.
  • Businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 30 percent are eligible
  • Eligible employers would include individuals, taxable corporations, and partnerships consisting of eligible employers as well as non‑profit organizations and registered charities.
  • The government will cover 75% of workers’ salaries on the first $58,700 they earn (up to $874 per week)
  • The program will be backdated to March 15th and will run until June 6th, 2020
  • Eligible employers will be able to apply through an online portral to be announced soon
  • Organizations that do not qualify may qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10 per cent of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, 2020.
  • The federal government is also proposing that employers eligible for the CEWS be entitled to receive a 100-per-cent refund for certain employer contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan paid in respect of employees who are on leave with pay.
• Loan Payments and Access to Credit
  • Federal Government Loans through Export and Development Canada  
  • EDC is working with financial institutions so that they can issue new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs.
    • Businesses should contact their financial institutions for further details.
    • The program will roll out in the next three weeks
  • EDC will guarantee loans of up to $5 million dollars to provide exporting companies with increased liquidity.
  • Interested parties should contact their financial institution for more details
  • Loans through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
    
  • The Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to eligible small businesses and non-profits through various financial institutions in partnership with the BDC
    • Eligible entities include those with payrolls between $50,000 to $1 million in 2019.
    • Interested parties should work with their current financial institutions.
  • Co-Lending through the BDC
  • The Co-Lending Program will bring the BDC together with financial institutions to help SMEs obtain incremental credit of up to $6.25 million for their operational cash flow requirements.
    • Commercial interest rates will apply
    • Loans are repayable over 10 years
    • Businesses should contact their financial institutions for further details.
    • The program will roll out in the next three weeks
  • The BDC has launched a series of products aimed at easing the financial stress on small and medium sized business including:
    • Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible repayment terms such as principal postponements for qualifying businesses
    • Reduced rates on new eligible loan
    • Existing clients may also be eligible for a postponement of payments for up to 6 months, free of charge (for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less).
    • Businesses seeking support through BCAP should first contact their financial institutions for an assessment of their situation
• Work Sharing Program
  
• The maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program will be extended from 38 weeks to 76 weeks
• Tax Deferrals
• Businesses can defer payment of income tax owing on or after March 18th and before September 2020 until August 31st 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.
• The federal government is allowing businesses, including self-employed individuals, to defer until June 30, 2020 payments of the GST/HST, as well as customs duty owing on their imports.
  • Any GST/HST payment that becomes owing from March 27 until the end of May can be deferred until the end of June. For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, deferral will include amounts owing for March, April and May.
  • These amounts were normally due to be submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency as early as the end of March 2020.
• Canada Summer Jobs Program
• The federal government will assist private and public sector employers so that they will be allowed to:
  • Receive up to 100 percent of the provincial and territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee
  • Extend the end date for employment to February 28 2021
  • Adapt their projects and job activities
  • Hire staff on a part-time basis

Provincial Measures

• BC Hydro Payments
• Small businesses that have needed to close due to COVID-19 may be eliglbe to have up to three months of electricity charges waived
• The application form is expected to open the week of April 13th
• Customers who are not eligible for the relief fund may be eligible for the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program available which allows customers to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty.
• Customers should call BC Hydro’s customer service team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss bill payment options
• WorkSafe BC Payment
• WorkSafeBC payment deadlines have been postponed without penalty
• Tax Deferrals
  • Businesses with labour costs over $500,000 will be able to defer their employer health tax payments until September 30^th 2020
  • Tax filing and payment of the municipal and regional district tax on short-term accommodation, the tobacco tax, the motor fuel and carbon taxes, and the employer health tax will be deferred until Sept 30^th 2020.
  • The following new taxes will be postponed until further notice:
    • Elimination of the PST exemption for carbonated beverages that contain sugar, natural sweeteners or artificial sweeteners
    • Expanded registration requirements for Canadian sellers of goods, along with Canadian and foreign sellers of software and telecommunication services
  • School tax rates for commercial properties (Classes 4, 5 and 6) will be reduced by 50% for the 2020 tax year

Resources for Non-Profits

Wage Subsidies

• The federal government announced that it is proposing to expand its wage subsidy program to cover 75% of the cost of workers’ wages for qualifying non-profits for up to 3 months.
  • Non-profits that have seen their revenues decrease by 30 percent are eligible
  • The government will cover 75% of workers’ salaries on the first $58,700 they earn (up to $874 per week)
  • The program will be backdated to March 15th

Loans

• The Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to eligible small businesses and non-profits through various financial institutions in partnership with EDC.
  • Eligible entities include those with payrolls between $50,000 to $1 million in 2019.
  • Interested parties should work with their current financial institutions.

Taxation

• The deadline to file taxes for charities with a T3010 has been extended until December 31^st 2020

Resources for Other Impacted Groups

Resources for Indigenous Peoples

• The federal government has proposed to provide $305 million to provide support to First Nations communities through the Indigenous Community Support Fund
  • These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to:
  • Support for Elders and vulnerable community members
  • Measures to address food insecurity
  • Educational and other support for children
  • Mental health assistance and emergency response services
• Preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• The federal government is providing $100 million to support a range of federal health measures, including support for preparedness in First Nation and Inuit communities. These funds will:
  • Respond to identified needs to update and activate pandemic plans
  • Support an effective allocation of public health and primary health care
  • Capacity to respond to the COIVD-19 outbreak
  • Align response efforts with scientific evidence as determined by a medical officer of health
  • Address immediate needs in the short term
• For more information on what the government is doing to support preparedness in First Nations and Inuit Communities please visit the Indigenous Services Canada webpage 

Resources for Farmers and the Aquaculture Industry 

• In partnership with Farm Credit Canada the Government of Canada has created a $5 billion loan program open to farmers, the agrifood sector, and the aquaculture sector
• The FCC will also allow for
  • a deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans; or
  • a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months
  • access to an additional credit line up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements or universal movable hypothec (Québec only

Resources for Airports

• The federal government is waiving ground lease rents from March 2020 through to December 2020 for the 21 airport authorities that pay rent to the federal government

Resources for the Arts & Culture Industry 

• The BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culturee and the BC Arts Council will offer a 50%  of last year’s operating grants as an advance for the next intake cycle to spring and fall operating assistance clients
• Operating Assistance clients and eligible project clients will receive a one-time supplement in early April
  • This one-time grant will range (maximum $15,000) depending on the size of the organization
• Deadlines have been extended for Professional Projects, Arts Based Community Development and Scholarships

Resources for Those Fleeing Domestic Violence

• The federal government has proposed to allocate $50 million to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities

Resources for the Homeless

• The federal government has proposed to provide $157.5 million to the Reaching Home to help with various issues such as purchasing beds and introducing physical barriers for social distancing and providing accommodation to decrease overcrowding in shelters

Resources for those on Income and Disability Assistance 

• • If you are not receiving federal Employment Insurance (EI) or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and are on:
    • Income Assistance
    • Disability Assistance
    • Comforts Allowance
    • BC Senior’s Allowance
  • You will automatically receive a $300 supplement on your cheques issued in April, May, and June. No action is required on your part.
  • If you are receiving federal EI or the CERB and receiving:
    • Income Assistance
    • Disability Assistance
  • You will not be eligible for the $300 supplement
  • CERB and EI are temporarily exempt, meaning they will have no effect on your regular Income Assistance or Disability Assistance.

• • BC Transit and Translink bus fares and passes are currently not required throughout the province
  • If you are on Disability Assistance and receiving the BC Bus Pass:
    • There is a current province-wide suspension of BC Transit and Translink bus fares
    • You will automatically receive the $52 Transportation Supplement on your cheque starting in April
    • This will continue for as long as BC Transit and Translink are suspending fares
    • No action is required on your part. Your bus pass will not be cancelled and will remain active for use on Sky Train and Sea Bus services. You will not need to re-apply once fares are re-instated
    • For people already receiving the Transportation Supplement of $52, there is no change and no action is required on your par

Further Notes on Child Care

Parents who can should care for their children at home

Eligible families will continue to receive the Affordable Child Care Benefit

• Child Care for Parents in Critical Roles
  
  • Child care will continue to be provided for parents who work in critical roles. The province has developed a system to match children of essential service workers to available child care spaces in their community.
    • Each Child Care Resource and Referral Centre (CCRR) will act as a hub and match essential services workers with local child care centres that have available spaces.
    • Parents with children aged 0-5 years old who work in essential services should fill in the Temporary Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers form which will be sent to their local CCRR. Parents will then be contacted by their local CCRR with available options
      • Check the updated list of essential service workers to confirm whether your role qualifies
    • Parents in Vancouver requesting child care for ages 0-12 years old need to complete the WCCR form.
    • For parents outside of Vancouver, child care services for school aged children (5-12 years old) can be obtained through their school directly
    • If there are any available spaces providers may, but are not required to, offer those spaces to parent in other fields of work who are unable to care for their children at home during this time.
  • Licensed group child care providers and smaller home-based child care providers are eligible for temporary funding to keep their operations going
    • These centres are eligible to receive seven times their average monthly funding from government, which is expected to cover approximately 75% of a group facility’s average monthly operating expenses
    • They will continue to receive Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative payments and Early Childhood Educator wage enhancements for their staff
  • Those receiving temporary emergency funding must
    • Not charge a parent fee for any period of closure or for any vacant spaces related to COVID-19
    • Ensure spaces are reserved once the pandemic passes for those families that were receiving child care prior to the pandemic, and choose to temporarily withdraw their child due to COVID-19 concerns
    • Make every effort to provide inclusive child care programming, including for children with extra support needs

• Support for Providers that Close
  • Providers that close are eligible to receive two times their average monthly government funding
  • This is expected to cover approximately 20% of an average group facility’s monthly operating expenses such as rent or lease throughout their temporary closure

Resources for vulnerable youth & young adults

• The province has provided information for youth and young adults or youth support organizations and has extended supports for youth in care or recently aged out of care
• Youth and young adults from care will continue receiving the same level of service during the pandemic, even if they were set to age out and those who have recently aged out will get extra assistance
• Youth currently living in foster care, contracted residential agencies or with relatives through the extended family program will be able to stay where they are
  • Social workers are modifying agreements to allow youth and caregivers to extend their current living arrangements where extensions are needed during the pandemic period
• Young adults between the ages of 19 and 27 who are enrolled in the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program will continue to receive financial support
  • These young adults may also be eligible to receive an extension of AYA support beyond the current maximum of 48 months
• Youth who are nearing the end of an Independent Living or Youth agreement will be given options allowing them to continue receiving monthly living expenses past their 19th birthday
  • Social workers will contact youth to walk them through this process

Support for Canadians Stranded Abroad

• An Emergency loan of $5000 available is to Canadians travelling abroad unable to use their own financial means to return home
• Eligible Canadians currently outside Canada who need financial assistance can contact the nearest Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or CAN.finances.CV19@international.gc.ca.

Support for the tourism sector

• Parks Canada will work with tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas to defer payments on commercial leases and licences of occupation without interest until September 1, 2020
• Parks Canada will contact operators in the coming days

Support for the publishing and media sectors 

• Canadian Heritage is working to establish a simplified process for submitting and processing 2020-21 funding requests for the Canada Book Fund and Canada Periodical Fund
• The Government of Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) have waived the CRTC Part I licence fees for the 2020-21 fiscal year

Support for Children & Youth with Special Needs

• Information for families, caregivers and service providers

Taking Job Protected Leave

An employee can take unpaid, job-protected leave related to COVID-19 if they’re unable to work for any of the following reasons:

• They have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are following the instructions of a medical health officer or the advice of a doctor or nurse
• They are in quarantine or self-isolation and are acting in accordance with an order of the provincial health officer, an order made under the Quarantine Act (Canada), guidelines from the BC Centre for Disease Control or guidelines from the Public Health Agency of Canada
• Their employer has directed them not to work due to concern about their exposure to others
• They need to provide care to their minor child or a dependent adult who is their child or former foster child for a reason related to COVID-19, including a school, daycare or similar facility closure
• They are outside of BC and unable to return to work due to travel or border restrictions

The COVID-19 leave is retroactive to January 27, 2020, the date that the first presumptive COVID-19 case was confirmed in British Columbia. During this public health emergency, employees can take this job-protected leave for the reasons above as long as they need it, without putting their job at risk. Once it is no longer needed, this leave will be removed from the Employment Standards Act.

The Road Ahead

Many individuals and businesses are currently enduring tremendous economic stress and anxiety to help save the lives of countless British Columbians. It is the responsibility of government to help these people deal with the consequences of the decision to effectively pause economic activity. All of us want to emerge out of this crisis in a place where the cafes, stores, and restaurants that help to make our communities feel like home are able to resume their operations. And if people who are living pay cheque to pay cheque are going to be asked to socially distance themselves, then they have to be put in an economic position where it is possible for them to do so. Thus, while we are combating this crisis governments will need to act as an insurer of last resort for the people and businesses who need it. The measures introduced within the last 10 days are a good start but will need to be reassessed in short order to determine whether some are slipping through the cracks.

To all of the individuals and small businesses owners who have been emailing throughout the week, thank you for coming forward to share the personal details of your situation. Your voice has been heard and I will continue to advocate for the government to provide people and businesses with the resources to make ends meet.

For more information on COVID-19 please visit:

1. Island Health updates: https://www.islandhealth.ca/news/news-releases
2. BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
3. BC Government News website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/
4.  Government of Canada Public Health Agency: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html
5. BC Hydro COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program: https://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2020/covid-19-updates.html
6. MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Paul Manly and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Bowinn Ma have also published useful information on public health orders and the financial supports available to businesses, families, and individuals

I continue to closely monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. I follow and I urge you to follow the advice of British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix and the Public Health Agency of Canada. It is critical that we follow credible advice from trusted sources and not fall victim to rumours and inaccurate information. Our BC Health Minister and Provincial Health Officer are doing an exemplary job of keeping the public informed during this public health crisis and I am very grateful for their steady leadership.

While COVID-19 is particularly serious to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, millennials are also at risk. In a recent study of 2143 pediatric COVID-19 patients in China, it was also noted that:

“Children at all ages were sensitive to COVID-19, and there was no significant gender difference. Clinical manifestations of children’s COVID-19 cases were less severe than those of adults’ patients.”

and that

“of the 2143 pediatric patients included in this study, only one child died and most cases were mild, with much fewer severe and critical cases (5.9%) than adult patients (18.5%).“

So COVID-19 represents a broad, population wide, health risk.

If you are interested in tracking the global advance of the pandemic, Johns Hopkins University has put together an interactive map of the global reach of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular note in their analysis is the extent to which the Chinese efforts have controlled the spread of the disease outbreak locally. This shows that the actions imposed by our public health officers work and so it is imperative we listen to and follow their advice.

Constituency office

As a result of the coronavirus, the Oak Bay-Gordon Head constituency office at 219-3930 Shelbourne St. will not be open to the public, but we will continue to provide service to constituents and encourage you to contact us if needed. Please contact us by email at andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca or by phone at (250) 472-8528. We have taken the step of closing the constituency office for face-to-face meetings to minimize risk to everyone. This is part of social distancing which is so important to reduce the risk of infection.

With the situation changing daily and the constant flood of information about coronavirus, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest public health guidelines and recommendations. While this information may quickly become outdated, this blog post highlights the individual steps that we can all take right now to do our part to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in British Columbia.

Social distancing & personal hygiene

The corona virus spreads very quickly. Without the necessary public health interventions, a relatively small number of cases could quickly turn into an unmanageably large number them. The Washington Post has provides further insight to illustrate how this transmission occurs and can be avoided. We can all take important steps right now to slow the spread of the disease. We slow it down through social distancing and meticulous personal hygiene.

Social Distancing

Social distancing involves taking measures to avoid close personal contact with others where the virus can be spread. As a result, many facilities we are accustomed to regularly using, such as restaurants, bars, recreation centers, and retail outlets, are now closing. Although those actively experiencing symptoms are more likely to be spreading the virus, it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to emerge and the virus can be spread to others during this time.

The public health authorities highly recommend taking the following steps:

• Work remotely where possible
• Wash your hands frequently
• Keep at least one meter between yourself and others
• If you are you are experiencing what could be COVID-19 symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing – you must self-isolate for 14 days.

Self-Isolation means:

• Not leaving home unless completely necessary
• Not using public transport or go to school, work, or other public areas
• Making arrangements to ensure that you’re able to get the groceries and supplies you need
• Staying in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible
• Keeping two meters between yourself and others if you need to be in contact with them
• Avoiding contact with pets who could spread the virus to others in your household

Personal Hygiene

Beyond just social distancing, the other thing we can all do to prevent the spread of the virus is to practice excellent personal hygiene both at work and at home. This means:

• Washing your hands far more frequently than you are accustomed. Wash them for at least 20 seconds, and dry them with disposable paper towels or reusable paper towels.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Coughing into your elbow rather than your hands
• Cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces at least once a day

The ultimate goal of these measures is twofold. The first is to protect vulnerable populations (i.e. the elderly and those who are immunocompromised) from contracting the virus. These demographic groups are far more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVD-19. The second is to prevent our healthcare system from becoming so overwhelmed by the virus that it loses its ability to effectively respond. We need to ensure that our healthcare system has the resources, personnel, and capacity to treat those who require hospitalization or become critically ill.

This graphic from the Washington Post illustrates helps to illustrate how social distancing or the lack of social distancing impacts public health outcomes. We’re social creatures by nature and it can be difficult to let go of old habits and practices. Following the advice of experts and public health officials now, to socially distance ourselves and maintain excellent personal hygiene, the situation will be made more manageable for those on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Maintain social connections & offering help to those who need it

With the rise of social distancing, the normal activities that enrich people’s lives may be increasingly suspended. From playing soccer at a local park to meeting friends at a local pub to going out to a movie, the kinds of activities that have become integral to our social routines will be temporarily disrupted. With the coronavirus bringing a certain degree of social disruption to our lives, it is vital that we work to maintain our social connections.

Social distancing does not have to mean complete social isolation. Make sure that you keep phoning and virtually communicating with friends and family. Reach out to those people who will be spending more time indoors such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions. Arrange to go for a walk with a friend (keeping one metre apart). Instead of passively consuming content on social media platforms or streaming services, use the digital tools we have at our disposal (computers and telephone) to connect with others. While virtual community does not completely replace close in-person communities, we need to be ready to conduct our more usual activates using the internet or phone lines. People are already conducting activities in virtual space which they would normally have undertaken in person. People are creating yoga classes, church services, and dinner parties online. Taking steps to maintain our social connections will help to keep some semblance of normalcy in abnormal times. It prevents us from feeling apart even if we are physically part.

Community Effort Required

Getting through the coronavirus pandemic will require a community wide effort to step up and help those who require assistance. Those in self-isolation will need others to help them obtain food, medication, and basic household supplies. Healthcare workers and their families will be going through a stressful time in which we ask a great deal from them. If you know any of these people, consider asking how you can help them. One phone call or conversation can make a huge difference in people’s lives.

For nearly all of us, this will be the first large scale public health crisis that we have experienced. Accounts of the Spanish flu are found in history books. More recently, the world managed to avoid the worst with SARs and H1N1. Modern society is now in uncharted territory, it can be easy to give in to panic, hysteria, and misinformation. Now, more than ever, we need to heed the advice of experts, make individual sacrifices for collective benefit, and extend solidarity to those in need. I am incredibly grateful to all the public health workers on the front lines who are working around the clock to keep us all safe. They should be lauded for their efforts and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. Stay informed, stay safe, and reach out to those require help.

Self-assessment tool for Covid-19

For many of us, it may be difficult to determine whether we have contracted COVID-19. To help determine whether you need further assessment or testing the province has created a self-assessment tool which you can complete for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

For more information on COVID-19 please visit:

1. Island Health updates: https://www.islandhealth.ca/news/news-releases
2. BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
3. BC Government News website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/
4.  Government of Canada Public Health Agency: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html
5. BC Hydro COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program: https://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2020/covid-19-updates.html

If you believe you may have symptoms of COVID-19, or may have been exposed, please call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line for further instruction. For the deaf and hard of hearing, call 7-1-1 to arrange for safe testing.

In an effort to ease the burden on HealthLink 811, B.C. has set up a dedicated COVID-19 line at 1-888-COVID19 or text at 1-888-268-4319.