In this issue...
- Updates from your Chamber
- Advocacy
- Updates and Resources re: Covid-19
- Ways to share your business status and how you are adapting your services
- Webinars
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UPDATES FROM YOUR CHAMBER
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We know it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the new information coming out by the minute!
We have created a page on our website to assist our Members looking for current information
and resources for businesses, individuals and travelers. Our newsletters will be sent out more frequently as we gather current information. If there is anything we can do for you and your business, please do not hesitate to reach out.
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Our
Facebook Page
will feature businesses who are adapting to online platforms or delivery services. To keep us informed, create a detailed post about your adapted services and be sure to tag us
@ladysmithcofc
before sharing the post to your Business Page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
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All upcoming events have been postponed until further notice.
In following the Minister of Health recommendation to practice Social Distancing and to do our part to flatten the curve and keep our team safe, we are primarily working from home.
If you need to contact us by telephone, you can call 250-245.2112 (please try, where possible, to restrict your calls to regular business hours) or send an
email
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Local Chambers and Cowichan Leaders Advocate for Commercial Rent Relief
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Many businesses are facing challenges to pay upcoming rent and lease payments. The commercial rent assistance is a priority issue right now with the BC Chamber of Commerce. In unison with an article published in the Times Colonist “
An Urgent Call for Relief” our Chamber is among a group of Cowichan leaders including our Mayor Stone who are advocating to the provincial government to offer rent relief to commercial tenants. Below is a link to a letter which was collectively drafted and sent to the media.
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A LETTER FROM PAUL MANLY, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
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Paul Manly, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, recently wrote to area mayors and city councils outlining the work he’s been doing in Ottawa, and here in Nanaimo-Ladysmith. Among his ideas are an increase in wage subsidy, suspension of commercial lease payments where possible, delaying property taxes, and suspending credit card interest rates.
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UPDATES & RESOURCES REGARDING THE COVID-19
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THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT (CERB)
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The Prime Minister has
announced
eligibility criteria
today, for this particular response to the COVID-19 crisis -
a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months
for:
· workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
· workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
· working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
· workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
· wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
Individuals can
get ready to apply online by setting up your CRA My Account
now, and signing up for direct deposit to get your benefit more quickly.
The government has indicated that more
information and an application process
for the
Wage Subsidy Program will be available Monday, April 6
. We’ll provide more information when it becomes available.
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BC's Business Voice During COVID-19
Engaging business perspectives via survey "pulse checks"
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In these unprecedented times, the BC Chamber is collaborating with business associations across the province to collect and provide the best information they can to government, from businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions across British Columbia. Information gathered will inform a holistic approach between government and society in acting on the COVID-19 pandemic.
They will be reaching out to BC's business community every two weeks with these short surveys. This ensures they stay informed about the evolving needs of business as the situation unfolds.
A coordinated strategy by governments and businesses will mitigate a worst-case scenario. Your feedback to this survey is essential to inform governments’ understanding of the most pressing impacts you are experiencing and what can be done to ensure government is enacting measures to provide the greatest relief.
This survey has been created in partnership with The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, The BC Business Council, and The Mustel Group.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS. If you haven't already, please take a few moments to complete their latest survey.
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A Worksheet to help claim your Temporary Wages Subsidy for Employers
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The Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is one of many business support programs announced over the past few weeks by the federal and provincial governments. The Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Our Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce President, Tammy Leslie, of Palmer Leslie Chartered Professional Accountants, has prepared an excel
spreadsheet that you can use to calculate the amount of subsidy you are entitled to plus information that you may find useful and a link to the “frequently asked questions” page on the Government of Canada website, which provides very good information. This spreadsheet is setup for a semi-monthly payroll and can be edited as needed to your payroll payment period i.e. monthly or bi-weekly. It also contains fake employees and wage amounts for examples sake which you can edit to fit your payroll situation.
We hope this is helpful as you prepare your remittances for the next few months.
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Destination BC & COVID-19: Response, Recovery & Resilience
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Given the extraordinary circumstances we’re experiencing across the globe in the face of COVID-19, promoting travel at this time is just not possible. Destination BC has paused all international and domestic paid marketing campaigns. Destination BC is actively planning a significant recovery campaign for the tourism industry in three phases, which can be implemented once circumstances change and public safety is assured:
1. Response 2. Recovery 3. Resilience
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Relief for BC Hydro Customers
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BC Hydro will be offering new, targeted bill relief to help those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• People who lost their jobs or are unable to work as a result of COVID-19 will receive a credit of three times their average monthly bill to help cover the cost of their electricity.
• Small businesses that have had to close due to COVID-19 will have their power bills forgiven for 3 months.
• Major industries, like pulp and paper mills and mines, can defer 50% of their bill payments for 3 months.
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VIRL offering online card registration, 24/7 WiFi and more while branches closed
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) branches remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we still have so much to offer VIRL cardholders across our library system. From existing online resources to new and enhanced offerings, VIRL is committed to offering services, amenities and entertainment to help in these challenging times.
Here are
some of newest services and enhancements VIRL has made available.
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SHARE YOUR BUSINESS STATUS AND HOW YOU ARE ADAPTING YOUR SERVICES
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Inform your Chamber of your business updates
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Our
Facebook Page
will feature businesses who are adapting to online platforms or delivery services. To keep us informed, create a detailed post about your adapted services and be sure to tag us
@ladysmithcofc
before sharing the post to your Business Page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
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Business Not As Usual Cowichan:
New Facebook Group in Support of Local Business
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Businesses across the Cowichan Valley Regional District are adapting their services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the Duncan Chamber is hosting a new Facebook group to support local.
All businesses (Chamber Members and Non-Chamber Members) as well as residents of the Cowichan Valley, from the Malahat to Ladysmith (and communities in between) are welcome to join. (if you do not have a facebook account, please
email us and we will post on your behalf)
NO COVID-19 NEWS: This group is not a platform for general information, updates, resources or dialogue pertaining to COVID-19. For this, they ask that you please refer to your Chamber's main
Facebook page, or visit our COVID-19 Business Resource Directory page on our
website
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Inform your Chamber of your business updates
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Our
Facebook Page
will feature businesses who are adapting to online platforms or delivery services. To keep us informed, create a detailed post about your adapted services and be sure to tag us
@ladysmithcofc
before sharing the post to your Business Page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
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Business Not As Usual Cowichan:
New Facebook Group in Support of Local Business
|
Businesses across the Cowichan Valley Regional District are adapting their services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the Duncan Chamber is hosting a new Facebook group to support local.
All businesses (Chamber Members and Non-Chamber Members) as well as residents of the Cowichan Valley, from the Malahat to Ladysmith (and communities in between) are welcome to join. (if you do not have a facebook account, please
email us and we will post on your behalf)
NO COVID-19 NEWS: This group is not a platform for general information, updates, resources or dialogue pertaining to COVID-19. For this, they ask that you please refer to your Chamber's main
Facebook page, or visit our COVID-19 Business Resource Directory page on our
website
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Our
Facebook Page
will feature businesses who are adapting to online platforms or delivery services. To keep us informed, create a detailed post about your adapted services and be sure to tag us
@ladysmithcofc
before sharing the post to your Business Page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
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Business Not As Usual Cowichan:
New Facebook Group in Support of Local Business
|
Businesses across the Cowichan Valley Regional District are adapting their services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the Duncan Chamber is hosting a new Facebook group to support local.
All businesses (Chamber Members and Non-Chamber Members) as well as residents of the Cowichan Valley, from the Malahat to Ladysmith (and communities in between) are welcome to join. (if you do not have a facebook account, please
email us and we will post on your behalf)
NO COVID-19 NEWS: This group is not a platform for general information, updates, resources or dialogue pertaining to COVID-19. For this, they ask that you please refer to your Chamber's main
Facebook page, or visit our COVID-19 Business Resource Directory page on our
website
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Google My Business and TripAdvisor
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Ladysmith - Chemainus COVID-19 Forum
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This group is for all residents and businesses of the #Ladysmith-#Chemainus area, to share questions and information linked to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Do you need help, or know of someone in our community that does? Are you feeling isolated and wish to connect and interact with your neighbors and local friends? Do you wish to extend your help and services to others in the Ladysmith-Chemainus area?
Do you have useful information, or news related to your local business to share?
Please feel free to post here, and invite your friends to join the group. Let's be strong, support each other, and keep our community as safe and healthy as we possibly can!
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Small Business BC
Free COVID-19 Webinars from
Small Business BC
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As small businesses play their part in helping to flatten the curve, it’s seen most businesses closing their storefronts and physical locations. Creating a delivery arm for your small business could be one way to keep serving your existing customer base, while also attracting new customers.
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This session will help you cope by starting with self-care for leaders: it begins with you. What are some things you can do as a small business owner or leader to manage your stress? What are some things you can do as a leader to help your team and fellow staff members?
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Free 6-Day Business Survival Masterclass Week 2
with Colin Sprake | CEO & Founder Make Your Mark
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Join The Free 6-Day Business Survival Masterclass Week 2 with @Colin Sprake | CEO & Founder Make Your Mark
Monday-Saturday-March 30 - April 4
(you can join in for single day sessions)
11:00am-12:00pm PST Each Day
Broadcasted ONLINE to your computer, tablet, or mobile device.
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The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is proud to work closely with the BC Chamber and local area Chambers
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33 Roberts Street, Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112
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