Speech from the Throne Unveils Plan for Canada's Future |
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Yesterday, Canada's minority Liberal government announced major plans that aim to assist most industries in Canada, along with supporting individuals in their search for work and benefits to get them through the COVID-19 crisis which now seems poised to continue well into 2021. While COVID-19 and economic assistance were at the helm of the speech, and a key priority for the government, issues such as systemic racism, climate change, and economic disparity were also noted as part of the “ambitious plan for an unprecedented reality".
Direct measures being taken includes extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy into next year. More details and reaction to come
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Safe Restart Agreement Update |
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Last week, the Government of Canada announced the next steps for the Safe Restart Agreement, which is a $19-billion funding agreement between Ottawa and the provinces and territories. The federal government has now shared the details of the funding that will be made available through the agreement. The Safe Restart Agreement focuses on seven key priorities over the next six to eight months to restart the economy while protecting the health of Canadians.
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BC's Restart Funding Supports Reliable Public Transit Services |
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People throughout BC will continue to have safe, reliable and affordable public transportation options, with federal and provincial confirmation that TransLink, BC Transit and BC Ferries will share more than $1 billion under the federal/provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced earlier this summer, cost-shared 50-50 by both governments. This will protect service levels across the province and ensure services remain affordable as part of BC’s Restart Plan.
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Amended Public Health Order Released for Hospitality Sector |
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More than a week after Dr. Henry issued verbal orders ending on-premise liquor sales at 10pm, the written public order has been made available. This order does not apply to events as defined in the Gatherings and Events order, or to meetings or conferences held in hotels or anywhere else. This order repeals and replaces the order made on July 31, 2020 and confirms Dr. Henry's oral order on September 8, 2020, with respect to nightclubs, liquor sales, and sound.
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Amended Public Health Order for Gatherings & Events Now Available |
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Further to her oral announcement on September 8, closing all stand alone banquet halls indefinitely and concluding liquor service at 10pm, Dr. Henry has released the formal written orders for gatherings and events. This order applies to meetings or conferences held in hotels or anywhere else, and repeals and replaces the order made on August 7, 2020 .
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BC Confirms Tax Measure Implementation Dates, Deferral Deadlines for Businesses |
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The Province is delaying implementation dates to April 2021 for changes to provincial sales tax (PST) and BC’s carbon tax. The employer health tax (EHT) 2020 quarterly installment dates are being extended as follows to:
- Dec. 31, 2020 (original instalment date was June 15, 2020)
- Jan. 31, 2021 (original instalment date was Sept. 15, 2020)
- Feb. 28, 2021 (original instalment date was Dec. 15, 2020)
These extensions will assist businesses in accessing cashflow during recovery, and more time to determine their annual payroll and estimate the amount of EHT they will owe. The 2020 EHT filing and balance due date will remain March 31, 2021.
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BC Chamber Launches Survey on Hiring for the Future Through Recovery |
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To support your business and COVID-19 recovery efforts, the BC Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon (ACE-WIL) to present the Survey on Hiring for the Future. This survey will help us understand how your business can leverage skilled student talent to recover more quickly, and how they can help you build towards a prosperous future.
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TODAY: Ask the Experts - Communicating in a Crisis, Local Media Weighs In |
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As a business, how do you ensure your message is heard when the media headlines are being dominated by COVID-19?
Today at 12:00 Noon, we will join in a conversation with local media experts to explore how media has changed in the age of increased competition, and discuss the critical challenges organizations are facing as they try to communicate during a crisis. We'll be joined by two veteran reporters: Chris Walker of CBC Daybreak South and Doris Bregolisse of Global Okanagan along with local communication consultants Chris Olsen and Cam McAlpine.
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United Way Kicks off 70th Annual Fundraising Campaign |
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Tomorrow at 12:00 Noon, the United Way kicks off their 70th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign with a virtual lunch in support of community programs across the Southern Interior of BC. They invite you to show your local love and start the 2020/21 Campaign together, sharing impactful stories, the power of partnership, and a shared vision for stronger, healthier communities.
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Flynn Canada Utilizes Tech for Uninterrupted Service |
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Even in the strictest lockdown situations across the country, proud Kelowna Chamber member Flynn Canada's roof repair and maintenance division has been considered an essential service. Rain obviously takes no notice of such things; commercial and industrial spaces can still leak during lockdowns.
Customer service has always been at the center of Flynn's delivery model. Not being able to meet customers in person is making this more difficult to navigate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flynn's home-grown service app has assisted them in receiving information on service calls and communicating their results with the customer directly, including service images. Their service process hasn't missed a beat. Well done!
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5 Minutes For Business: A Severe Recession and Uneven Recovery |
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On September 10, the Canadan Chamber of Commerce hosted Tiff Macklem, newly appointed Governor of the Bank of Canada, to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our economy and the progress made on economic recovery. During the event, Governor Macklem showed that Canada’s economy saw the sharpest drop on record this past spring, causing the most severe global downturn since the Great Depression.
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DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO APPLY: Canada United Small Business Relief Grants |
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Local businesses from all over Canada can now apply for a Canada United Relief Grant of up to $5,000. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund is being managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network in support of other chambers and partners to help small Canadian businesses with their recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19.
If awarded, a relief grant may be used to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), renovate physical space to adhere to local, Provincial or Federal reopening guidelines, or develop/improve e-commerce capabilities for your business.
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KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org |
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