July 15, 2020
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CUSMA Information Session
July 22, 2020
9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Are you interested in learning about what the new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) means for your business?
On July 22 from 9:30-10:45 a.m. PST, BC’s International Trade Division is delivering a free, live and interactive webinar on the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) entered into force on July 1st, 2020, replacing the 26-year old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Join staff from the BC Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness for a free webinar that will cover:
- Differences between the CUSMA and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- How the CUSMA can benefit BC businesses
- How the CUSMA applies in areas such as goods, services, investment, e-commerce, and business entry
- Recent developments in the free trade agreement landscape
Participants will be able to pose questions and draw attention to trade barriers they are facing to trade experts in the provincial government.
*The webinar link will be sent to registered attendees.
Federal wage subsidy for businesses to be extended to December
Ryan Patrick Jones · CBC News
Jul 13, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the federal government is extending the emergency wage subsidy program to December of this year.
The program covers 75 per cent of wages, up to a weekly maximum of $847, for workers at eligible companies and non-profits affected by the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This week we'll be announcing an extension to the wage subsidy program until December, to give greater certainty and support to businesses as we restart the economy," said Trudeau.
The wage subsidy program is the centrepiece of the government's plan to get Canadians back to work following several months of restricted economic activity — but the program's uptake has not been as robust as the government had hoped.
As of July 6, the wage subsidy had paid out $18.01 billion to 252,370 companies.
B.C. forecasting $12.5B deficit due to COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic will mark British Columbians' lifetimes in ways never thought possible, and the Province is investing in people, businesses and communities to see them through the pandemic and build back better.
“B.C. has made extraordinary investments in people and businesses through B.C.’s COVID-19 Action Plan and we will continue to provide the supports people need as the pandemic and the economic impacts evolve,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance.
The B.C. government has released an economic and fiscal update for 2020-21 to provide a summary of COVID-19 investments to date, as well as a scenario of revenue and deficit projections.
Government has supported people and businesses with $6.26 billion in COVID-19 supports to date. That includes the $5 billion in supplementary spending for B.C.’s COVID-19 Action Plan supports, such as workers benefits, rent supplements, income and disability assistance supports and economic recovery funding. These are in addition to $1.26 billion in other tax and relief measures for people and businesses, including the one-time increase to the climate action tax credit and property tax reductions for businesses.
With the pandemic response for British Columbians, and a significant revenue decline due to the pandemic, the Province’s total operating deficit for 2020-21 could be $12.5 billion, based on projections developed by the Ministry of Finance.
“B.C.’s safe restart plan is creating signs of hope for our economy as consumer confidence increases. These results have only been possible because of our strong public health measures,” James said. “As we continue our work to create a strong recovery, we also have an opportunity to build a stronger B.C. that works for everyone in our province.”
British Columbia has made progress flattening the curve because of its strong health policy and a commitment to help keep each other safe. The Province is building an economic recovery plan that puts people first, with input from British Columbians, businesses and community organizations – so everyone has a good job and a secure future.
“The pandemic has exposed underlying gaps in our economy and society,” James said. “We have been reminded of the need for strong public services and supports, workplace safety and our collective responsibility to take care of each other, and I’m looking forward to putting people’s input into action as we move forward with the economic recovery of our province.”
As part of the COVID-19 Action Plan, $1.5 billion has been earmarked for economic recovery measures to be announced in September.
Quick Facts:
- To date, more than 600,000 British Columbians have received the one-time, tax-free $1,000 BC Emergency Benefit for Workers.
- More than 80% of B.C. families received an enhanced climate action tax credit in July – helping families with up to an additional $450, double the annual amount.
- Over 200,000 people have benefited from the disability and income assistance crisis supplements.
- More than 81,000 applications have been approved for the temporary rent relief supplement to date.
- Over 250,000 eligible front-line workers will receive temporary pandemic pay, a lump-sum payment of about $4 per hour for a 16-week period.
- Businesses are benefiting from an average 25% cut to property tax bills, deferred tax payments, BC Hydro rate reductions, eviction protection and rent relief.
- On average, private sector forecasters expect B.C.’s real gross domestic product to decline by 5.4% in 2020 – better than the decline of 6.6% on average across Canada.
What BC Communities Are Doing
Video: Downtown Courtenay is Open for Business
Revelstoke City Council approves new vision statement for Official Community Plan
Rural B.C. and First Nation communities receive funds from provincial government to support tourism
New business tool supporting local entrepreneurs in the Comox Valley
Nelson Innovation Centre opens in Railtown
Several Quesnel area governments work toward forming community forest agreement
Share your community's news by emailing info@bceda.ca
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