UPDATES FROM TASK FORCE CHAIRS
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This morning, our Richmond COVID-19 Community Task Force (RCCTF) hosted its third teleconference meeting.
This week, our focus as a task force remained on information sharing, with a spotlight on mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine efforts on public safety, as well as economic resilience.
We were grateful to have additional presentations today from Superintendent Will Ng, OIC for the Richmond RCMP, and Chief Tim Wilkinson with Richmond Fire Rescue. Their updates are summarized below.
As always, if you have key items that you wish to be brought to the Task Force, please email
[email protected].
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Task Force Co-Chairs:
Fan Chun (Chair, Richmond Chamber of Commerce) and Mayor Malcolm Brodie (City of Richmond)
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UPDATE FROM VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH
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Dr. Meena Dawar, Medical Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health shared:
- Tracking the Curve: We are tracking numbers of hospitalizations and see reason for cautious optimism in BC. Numbers of hospitalized patients are doubling every 5-7 days now. At the beginning of this crisis, they were doubling every three days
- Using Masks: Masks should be used by people who are ill, or showing any symptoms of respiratory infection. They are not indicated for healthy members of the public. BCCDC on Masks
- Community Social Distancing and "Stay at Home" Message: This epidemic is going to last several weeks to months. We need to be out and about to maintain our physical and mental well-being. It is important to get fresh air and exercise but not to congregate in groups. We support the City of Richmond message “Be Smart, Keep Apart”.
- Demographics: With nearly 48,000 tests conducted, approximately 1,200 patients have tested positive. The median age of patients is 56 years.
Resources:
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UPDATE FROM THE CITY OF RICHMOND
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All standing committee meetings are cancelled after Tuesday's Planning Committee Meeting, except for General Purposes and Finance Committees.
There is a
Council Meeting this evening, which will include reducing the credit card payment fee to 1%, discretion to extend payment dates on District Energy Utility charges, and considering the overall financial implications resulting from COVID-19.
City Requests to Province: The City will be asking the Province to consider revenue implications including: allowing extensions for payment of taxes; tax and tax deferral programs for hardship cases.
Workforce: All temporary and auxiliary workers have been temporarily displaced. Regular employees have been able to take unpaid leaves with the full protection of their jobs, seniority, and full benefits.
Richmond Food Recovery Network: The City has a partnership with FoodMesh, a company that uses technology to redistribute surplus food from food businesses to social groups and meal programs. Because of COVID our food manufacturers are ramping up, and there’s also increased need for meal programs. The #FoodShare Pledge challenge is running throughout the month of April to onboard as many new food companies and charities as possible, with the goal of creating an additional 10,000 meals for Richmond residents this month.
Take the Foodshare Pledge
Suppliers and Manufacturers: The City continues to work with local companies to get them connected to federal and provincial procurement channels including the new BC COVID Supply Hub. Companies are quickly scaling up to supply more medical equipment and suppliers, or pivoting entirely to create things like face shields, custom packaging, and various PPE.
Call for Richmond Manufacturers and Suppliers
Support Local Business Campaign: City has launched a Support Local Business campaign on social media. This is in collaboration with partners including Tourism Richmond that has a dedicated web page set up profiling restaurants that are offering takeout and delivery.
Support Local Business Campaign Page
Resources:
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UPDATE FROM RICHMOND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Fan Chun, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Pitcairn, its President and CEO shared:
Last week, the Federal government released more information about the 75% wage subsidy. Money will be available in approximately 6 weeks, with the portal opening soon. We eagerly await that opening of applications.
Moving forward, The Richmond Chamber and our network is advocating for these additional measures, such as:
- Rent Relief: Paying the rent is the most top of mind concern for many businesses right now. We ask that government consider a similar model for commercial tenants, like the Rental Assistance support put in place for individuals.
- We are asking that government allow for Deferred Municipal Property Tax Payment and look at covering a Portion
- We ask that the province consider Freezing the Scheduled Minimum Wage Increase for 6 months. While the planned minimum wage increase should go forward, this summer is a time that businesses will (hopefully) be beginning the process of recovery. They’ll be hiring back workers and trying to recoup some losses. This is an added cost that business simply can’t handle at this point in time.
- We are asking for an EHT Payment Holiday, not just a deferment, for the first 6 Months which would be tremendously helpful to business.
- We ask that the Province provide funding to assist businesses setting up Remote Working or Online Commerce which is vital at this time. We believe this ask also a future-oriented opportunity as after the crisis, these businesses will likely continue remote work options that can reduce congestion and help achieve our GHG reduction targets.
- Lastly, revise the Government Account Payables Policy to require all crown corps and other provincial agencies to have a revised Account Payables policy that is net 10 days down from the usually 60 days.
We received some Richmond specific data on Friday on our most-recent pulse-check survey:
- 79% of respondents reported a decline in sales
- Over 40% have already made layoffs, reduced staff hours, or temporarily closed
- Top government reliefs supported by respondents:
- Immediate tax relief, direct payments to impacted businesses, further wage subsidies, further tax remittance, rent relief
- Lastly, and showing a growing lack of optimism, 54% expect a slow economic rebound, mainly due to insufficient global economic activity, and inability for customers to make purchasers
Resources:
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UPDATE FROM VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY (YVR)
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Craig Richmond, President and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) shared:
- YVR passenger traffic has dropped to about 3,000 passengers a day. (A normal volume for this time of year is 78,000.)
- The terminal is now largely consolidated in Terminal C and adjacent gates.
Resources:
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UPDATE FROM RICHMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
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Scott Robinson, Superintendent of Schools for SD 38 shared that there are three main areas of focus:
Three areas of focus:
Childcare for Essential Service Workers:
- There were roughly 200 initial applications from ESW families, a number of whom have declined space in order to leave it open for other families. A Brighouse Elementary site opened last week and sites at Gilmore and McNeely opened today.
Supporting Vulnerable Families:
- Approximately 250 students who normally receive breakfast and lunch through school have been identified to receive food hamper delivery. Hamper delivery will begin this week.
Continuity of Instruction for All Students:
- Starting this week, instruction for most students will begin through a variety of means
- IT staff have been collating collected information about indivdual family access to technology and will begin distributing devices as needed.
Resources:
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UPDATE FROM TOURISM RICHMOND
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Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond shared that:
- The tourism industry is trying to get a handle on the impact of COVID-19 - collecting data to tell the story of how this is impacting businesses and the people behind them
- In Richmond, the tourism sector accounts for about 20,000 jobs and $2 billion in economic impact.
Resources:
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UPDATES FROM RICHMOND'S MLAs
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Richmond's four MLAs, Jas Johal, Linda Reid, John Yap, and Teresa Wat shared some of their recent work:
- The 4 Richmond MLAs are part of a group that support the public health aspects of this crisis. They are in support of Dr. Henry's and the public health approach. The one issue that is very topical for constituents is rent for commercial tenants.
- There should soon be more information on the 211 volunteer engagement program from Richmond Cares Richmond Gives. All MLAs will be helping to be the message out.
Resources:
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Superintendent Will Ng, Officer in Charge for the Richmond RCMP shared that:
- Crime and call volume are down for the Richmond RCMP
- There has been a slight uptick in family violence calls
- There has also been a very slight uptick in commercial break-ins. The RCMP deployment strategy is focused on keeping business entities safe by increasing patrols at business parks and other commercial areas
- There has been bit of trend with homeless persons arriving at YVR via the Canada Line looking for shelter. The RCMP is working with Transit Police to find alternatives for these people.
Resources:
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UPDATES FROM RICHMOND FIRE RESCUE
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Chief Tim Wilkinson with Richmond shared that:
- Richmond Fire Rescue are in a good place with PPE and policies to support Fire Fighters
- In the last week and a half, there has been an increase in fires: both at residential structures and in hedges, which can obviously be impactful. Richmond Fire Rescue is working closely with the RCMP and fire investigators in this regard.
Resources:
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Richmond Chamber of Commerce
604.278.2822
www.RichmondChamber.ca
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