May 15, 2020
Notice: The BCEDA COVID19 Bulletin will now be emailed on Monday, Wednesdays & Fridays.
Resources for Businesses
Live Resources for BC Businesses Document
Recently Updated:
- PM says wage subsidy being extended to end of August
- BCAP expanded to help mid-sized companies with larger financing needs
- Ottawa earmarks $469M for fish harvesters amid coronavirus pandemic
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) now accepting applications
- SBBC article: How to Earn the Trust of Customers as you Reopen Your Business
- Digital Main Street: A free digital "how to" guide to help you grow your business.
BCEDA Releases Business Operational Plan Template
This basic template will help you to get started developing an operational plan for your BC business/service. The purpose of this template is for your business/service to develop a plan to address public health measures during the COVID-19 recovery in British Columbia.
The template provides you with questions, fillable tables and lists for consideration, implementation guidance and planning to help address the following five guiding principles issued by the Government of British Columbia:
• Personal hygiene
• Stay home if you are sick
• Environment hygiene
• Safe social interactions
• Physical modifications
The template is for general guidance only to assist you in the development of a more comprehensive plan. This is not a mandated plan template but is provided as a tool to help you meet requirements.Details and additional resources for your specific industry should be referred to prior to completing this template. Information can be found on the WorkSafeBC website.
Buy BC Partnership Program E-commerce Funding Stream
This new stream of funding is now available under the Buy BC Partnership Program to help farmers and food processors adopt e-commerce tools that enhance direct-to-consumer sales.
The Government of BC has committed $300,000 to Buy BC E-commerce activities to support the immediate needs of the sector as a result of COVID-19. The program can provide up to $5,000 per applicant on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding has been fully allocated.
The e-commerce funding stream is available to agri-businesses who are not currently receiving Buy BC funding. If you have an active project under the Buy BC Partnership Program please speak with your Program Coordinator about incorporating e-commerce activities into your current project. Businesses with active Buy BC logo licenses, including those who have received Buy BC funding in previous fiscal years, are eligible for e-commerce funding. If your business does not have a Buy BC logo license, we have streamlined the process for you to acquire one. You will be prompted to fill out licensing application questions in the same form as the funding request when the application window opens.
The application window will open on May 15 @ 9am PDT and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis until May 29 @ 4:30pm PDT or until the funding is fully subscribed at which point the application window will close. The project implementation period is June 8, 2020 – September 30, 2020. All projects must be completed by September 30, 2020.
Resources for Economic Developers & Local Leaders
Slides from BCEDA Economic Response & Restart Call, May 14
Thursdays at 2:00pm PST
The Changing Business Landscape for Retail, Shopping Centres and Events Industries
On this week’s call, we heard from the following experts in the retail, shopping centre and events industries:
- Karl Littler, Vice President, Public Relationships, Retail Council of Canada
- Michael Kehoe, Canada Ambassador, International Council of Shopping Centers
- Calvin McCarthy, President, SW Event Technology & Showtime Event and Display
We are pleased to share the presentation slides below.
New programs support oil & gas jobs, clean up environment
The Province is supporting jobs for B.C. workers in oil and gas service companies to clean up the environment and help restart the economy.
“With the support of the federal government, B.C. is taking action to accelerate the restoration of more than 2,000 orphan and inactive wells,” said Premier John Horgan. “This program will support upwards of 1,200 jobs, helping B.C. workers, the environment and our economy during these challenging times.”
On April 17, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $120 million for B.C. to support cleaning up oil and gas sites. Subject to reaching final agreement with Canada, the Province intends to invest this funding in three new programs:
- The Dormant Sites Reclamation Program will provide $100 million to reclaim dormant oil and gas sites, which are wells that have been inactive for five consecutive years and are unlikely to be returned to service. This program will provide up to $100,000, or 50% of total costs, whichever is less.
- The Orphan Sites Supplemental Reclamation Program will provide $15 million to reclaim orphan oil and gas sites where the operator is insolvent, no longer exists or cannot be located. This program will be administrated by the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) and will be in addition to $27 million in planned BCOGC clean up of such wells for 2020-21.
- The Legacy Sites Reclamation Program will provide $5 million to address the legacy impacts of historical oil and gas activities that continue to have environmental impacts, such as on wildlife habitat or on the traditional use by Indigenous peoples.
These programs will be open to oil and gas field service companies and contractors based in B.C., with registration, office and operations in B.C.
“Through these three programs, we are accelerating the cleanup of thousands of orphan and inactive wells,” said Bruce Ralston, B.C.'s Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “This allows us to restore lands of important environmental and cultural relevance, while also supporting local jobs and local economies in B.C.’s northeast.”
Indigenous communities, local governments and landowners will be able to nominate dormant, orphan and legacy sites for priority consideration for decommissioning, reclamation or restoration.
“Thanks to the co-operation between the governments of Canada and British Columbia, this program will mean a cleaner environment and much needed jobs for workers in B.C.,” said Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources.
Applications for the Dormant Sites Reclamation Program will be accepted beginning May 25.
What BC Communities Are Doing
Chilliwack virtual Give-a-Thon to benefit non-profits impacted by COVID-19
Greater Victoria Tourism Rescue & Recovery Task Force
Tourism Richmond, the City of Richmond and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce join forces to create WeAreRichmondBC.ca
City of Vancouver release survey results about attitudes on reopening businesses
Merritt Parks & Recreation looks at reopening plan
City of Vancouver considers 'slow streets' for 50 km worth of roads
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