Liquor Industry Update: September 21, 2023
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update:
Federal Government Extends CEBA Repayment and Partial Loan Forgiveness Deadlines
ABLE BC is Hiring
Exclusive Recruitment Opportunity for ABLE BC Members: Destination Canada Mobility Forum
ABLE BC Member Webinar: LCRB Minors as Agents Program – What You Need to Know
Restaurants Canada Webinar: BC Environment Ministry & Innovative Entrepreneurs Tackle Single-Use Plastic Challenges
Read ABLE BC’s 2023 Advocacy Report: Building for the Future
ABLE is Seeking Members for New Lotto Committee
2023 Membership Survey Results
go2HR on Tap: Checking In
Cannabis Corner with Nick Landells
Out and About with ABLE BC!
Exclusive Foodbuy Canada Signing Bonus for SPARK Delegates
WORTH Association Mentorship Program
Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
Find all past updates here.
Federal Government Extends CEBA Repayment and Partial Loan Forgiveness Deadlines
On September 14, the federal government announced revised terms and deadlines for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).
The deadline to pay back CEBA loans has been extended to December 31, 2026. However, the deadline to meet the condition for the forgivable portion has only been extended until January 28, 2024.
Earlier this year, ABLE BC wrote to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, advocating on behalf of our members for an extension to the CEBA repayment deadline.
We are grateful that government has heard our concerns and taken a step in the right direction. However, this extension doesn’t adequately address the severity of financial strain on businesses who are still fighting to recover from the pandemic.
Under the new CEBA terms, businesses must make repayment arrangements before January 18, 2024, or the current CEBA loan will be subject to a three-year repayment plan at 5% interest per year, and lose the forgivable portion offered by the government.
According to ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, “This is a good start, but adding more debt to struggling businesses isn’t the solution. Government should have extended the forgivable portion of the loan at least another year, or until economic conditions change and our industry gets their feet under them again.”
On your behalf, we urge the government to revisit the payment deadline and extend the interest-free period.
Please contact jeff@ablebc.ca if you have questions.
ABLE BC is Hiring!
We are excited to announce that we're expanding our team and seeking to add a Membership Sales and Services Coordinator to the ABLE BC team!
Click here to read the full job description.
To apply, please send your resume, a writing sample, and salary expectations to jeff@ablebc.ca.
Please feel free to forward the job description to your network of contacts or encourage prospective candidates to reach out to jeff@ablebc.ca.
Exclusive Recruitment Opportunity for ABLE BC Members: Destination Canada Mobility Forum
We are thrilled to announce that our partners at the BC Hotel Association (BCHA) are extending an exclusive and incredible recruitment opportunity to ABLE BC members!
If you have been struggling to recruit or retain employees – at any level and in any department – or have been unable to return to full operating hours, this opportunity is for you.
BCHA’s team, including Workforce Strategist Alison Langford, is taking part in the Destination Canada Mobility Forum on behalf of BCHA and ABLE BC members. The forum takes place on November 18-24, 2023, in Paris, France and Rabat, Morocco, and provides an opportunity for French-speaking and bilingual workers to learn about immigrating to Canada for work in the tourism and hospitality industry.
This year, the program has been expanded to include skilled and unskilled positions such as chefs, cooks, food service supervisors, dishwashers, and retail workers.
This program does not require the employer to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which saves you valuable time, money, and resources. Employees are issued two-year work permits that are employer-specific, ensuring stability and a long-term solution to the ongoing workforce shortage.
How does it work?
ABLE BC and BCHA members can submit job orders for skilled and unskilled positions to alison@bcha.com. Submit your job order no later than September 22, 2023.
For only $1000, ABLE BC and BCHA members can submit up to three job orders.
BCHA representatives will meet with job seekers in France and Morocco. All candidates are pre-screened before sending resumes and interview summaries to employers.
Skilled and unskilled workers will obtain work permits through the Francophone Mobility Program, which does not require an LMIA from the employer.
Work permits are issued for two years and are employer-specific.
You must be an ABLE BC or BCHA member in good standing to take advantage of this opportunity. Not a member? Sign up now! Questions about membership? Contact Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication at ann@ablebc.ca.
There are a limited number of job orders available, so act quick! The deadline to submit a job order is September 22, 2023
Click here for more information.
Contact alison@bcha.com or ann@ablebc.ca if you have questions.
ABLE BC Member Webinar September 28: LCRB Minors as Agents Program – What You Need to Know
Preventing the sale of liquor and cannabis to minors is a key priority for the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB). The Minors as Agents Program (MAP) is the LCRB’s tool for monitoring licensees’ compliance with the prohibition against selling of liquor and cannabis to minors.
While we share government’s goal of keeping controlled substances out of the hands of minors, industry’s MAP compliance rate for the first quarter of 2023 was only 81 per cent. This webinar will provide a better understanding of due diligent practices to help you ace a MAP visit.
Please join senior officials from the LCRB—Ian Brown, Deputy General Manager and Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement, and Maria Caduhada, Manager, Dispute Resolution and Branch Registrar—for a discussion of the MAP initiative. Ian will explain the program and clarify what minor agents do during an inspection. Maria will offer an overview of enforcement hearings and provide insight into the essentials of an effective due diligence defence.
We will also be joined by an expert licensing consultant who will review due diligence resources for your business.
This webinar is free for ABLE BC members! Simply login to the member portal to register now.
Non-members may attend for $10
Not a member yet? Sign up today to gain free access to this webinar and all other ABLE BC resources
Webinar Details:
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: zoom
Tickets: FREE for ABLE BC members. $10 for non-members
Restaurants Canada Webinar: BC Environment Ministry & Innovative Entrepreneurs Tackle Single-Use Plastic Challenges
Earlier this week, Restaurants Canada hosted a webinar on BC’s provincial single-use plastic ban. We encourage you to watch the webinar here.
This recording is also available in the video library of the member portal.
2023 Advocacy Report: Building for the Future
ABLE BC is the only industry association fighting for the needs of BC's private liquor industry.
Read the 2023 Advocacy Report: Building for the Future to learn more about how the ABLE BC team and Board of Directors work to support your business.
Here's what you'll find inside:
A message from ABLE BC's President, Yvan Charette
A message from ABLE BC's Executive Director, Jeff Guignard
How ABLE BC supports members every day
Information on the Business Technical Advisory Panel (BTAP)
A re-cap of our advocacy wins and member resources for 2022-23
Our plans for the 2023-24 membership year
Policy priorities from the LRS, LP, and cannabis policy committees
And more!
Download the 2023 Advocacy Report Now!
ABLE is Seeking Members for New ABLE BC Lottery Committee
Last week, ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard and Director Owen Coomer (Chief Operating Officer of The Taphouse) met with the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) to discuss their ongoing partnership with the hospitality industry. We discussed several of your priorities, upgrades to machines, improved communications, and other innovations from BCLC.
To ensure ABLE BC effectively works with BCLC on our members’ behalf, we are seeking committee members for a new ABLE BC Lottery Committee, chaired by Director Owen Coomer. The Committee will help shape our feedback, advocacy, and lottery priorities in the coming months.
If you are an ABLE BC member in good standing and would like to join this committee, please reach out to Executive Director Jeff Guignard at jeff@ablebc.ca.
Not a member yet but still want to participate? Sign up here!
2023 Membership Survey Results
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our 2023 membership survey! Your feedback is vital in helping our team understand how we can serve you better. Here are a few highlights from the survey:
Most respondents (67%) are either satisfied or very satisfied with ABLE BC overall and 71% are either satisfied or very satisfied with our advocacy efforts. We’re very pleased to hear this! We focus on work that matters to our members and our industry. You can read about our recent advocacy wins and plans for the future in our 2023 Advocacy Report here.
Our bi-weekly Liquor Industry Update Newsletter is very important to respondents, with 77% reading nearly every issue.
37% of respondents would like to see more HR guidance in the newsletter. Good news! Go2HR is now a regular contributor, and their articles are archived in the member portal for easy reference.
Our quarterly magazine, The Quarterly Pour, is very important to respondents, with 75% reading most issues and 35% reading every issue and sharing articles with staff. You can view every issue of The Quarterly Pour here. If you would like to receive a hard copy, please reach out to joyce@emcmarketing.com
The two most common threats to business mentioned were staffing challenges and inflation. Rest assured, we are active in both of these issues and working on long-term solutions.
Please reach out to jeff@ablebc.ca or ann@ablebc.ca if you would like to discuss the survey results in more detail.
go2HR on Tap: Checking In
Although it may seem like the biggest challenge of our generation (the Covid-19 pandemic) may largely be behind us; it’s impact on the bar, pub, and liquor and cannabis retail industries will continue to be felt for years to come. As employers, it is our responsibility to create a supportive environment where employees feel valued and cared for. Regularly checking in with them about their mental health can make a significant difference in their overall well-being and productivity. In this article, we will explore the importance and benefits of checking in with employees, particularly in the challenging post-pandemic context.
The importance and benefits of checking in:
Recognizing the impact: Anxiety, stress, and trauma are common responses during challenging times. Some individuals may in fact function very well during a crisis and experience a delayed stress response once the crisis has passed. By checking in with employees, we acknowledge and validate their experiences creating a safe space for them to express their concerns.
Reducing stigma: Most employees in the cannabis and alcohol industry take a lot of pride in their work however, these industries can be subject to societal stigma. Many people still associate cannabis use with negative stereotypes, like criminality and substance use disorders. This stigma may impact employees' mental well-being and the ability to retain and attract talent. By actively checking in on their mental health, employers can create a safe and supportive environment, and work with them to decrease the stigma they might experience while working in these industries.
High-stress environment: Dealing with customers, handling regulated substances, and managing potentially difficult situations can contribute to a high-stress work environment. Regular check-ins allow employers to identify and address stressors that employees may be facing. This can help prevent burnout, improve job satisfaction, and promote a healthier work-life balance.
Demonstrating care and support: Checking in with employees about their mental health sends a powerful message that their well-being matters. It shows that we genuinely care about their emotional state and are committed to supporting them through difficult times.
Early identification of potential mental health concerns: Regular check-ins help us to identify signs of distress early on; allowing us to take necessary steps to offer timely support and connect them with appropriate resources, such as counselling services or employee assistance programs.
Enhanced employee morale: When employees feel supported and cared for, their morale increases. This boost in morale can lead to increased motivation, engagement, and productivity, even during challenging times.
Improved communication and teamwork: Regular check-ins foster open and honest communication between employees and management. This open dialogue can strengthen relationships, build trust, and improve teamwork, helping everyone navigate through difficult times more effectively.
Our employees are our most valuable assets. By prioritizing their well-being and regularly checking in with them, we can create a psychologically safe and supportive work environment that promotes resilience, productivity, and overall wellness.
We invite you to watch the 3-minute Safety Talk: Checking In on BC’s Hub for Workplace Mental Health. To learn more about how you can notice and support employees who may be struggling with their mental health, we encourage you to register for the Workplace CARE Level 2: How to Help, created specifically for the Tourism & Hospitality sector.
If you have questions or would like more information about checking-in or psychological health and safety in the workplace (at no cost), please contact Valerie Lister, go2HR’s Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coach.
Cannabis Corner with Nick Landells
The last two weeks have been as busy as always for ABLE. We’ve reached out extensively to cannabis retailers to discuss the LCRB’s engagement paper on the maximum number of stores a retailer can operate. It was fascinating to hear the diverse range of opinions and we reflected the views of all our member as we drafted our submission.
Sign up your cannabis stores in our new class of cannabis membership to support all of the work we are doing on your behalf. We’re offering a discounted membership fee to all ABLE members who sign up as cannabis members by the end of September. Enter the code ABLECAN1 to receive $100 off the cannabis membership for your first store and ABLECAN2 to receive $50 off each of your additional stores.
Click here to join today
Out and About with ABLE BC!
Did you see the ABLE BC table at the Victoria IVSA tasting salon last week? Ann was there to chat with licensees about ABLE BC (and maybe to sneak in a tasting or two!). If you missed us at IVSA and would like to chat about signing up, accessing our benefits and resources, or just to learn more about our advocacy work, reach out to ann@ablebc.ca.
And if you’re in the lower mainland, you can talk to Jeff at the Vancouver IVSA tasting salon on September 26th, at the Vancouver Club.
Exclusive Foodbuy Canada Signing Bonus for SPARK Delegates
We are pleased to announce that Foodbuy Canada is offering an exclusive signing bonus to SPARK conference delegates!
Join Foodbuy Canada at SPARK to take advantage of an exclusive signing bonus and earn unbeatable rebates on purchases all year. Make sure to visit Martin Brochu and JJ Fraser at the Foodbuy Canada booth in the SPARK marketplace to learn more.
About Foodbuy Canada:
Foodbuy is the largest foodservice procurement organization in Canada with over $2.4 billion in purchasing power. Simplify your procurement and optimize your savings with a no-fee Foodbuy Canada membership.
What you get when you sign-up with Foodbuy:
Monthly rebate cheques
Customized purchasing programs
Transparent, customized, and optimized reporting
Dedicated account management
How Foodbuy Canada works: no changes required!
Easy start-up within 30 days and no term
Keep your distribution agreements with GFS or Sysco
Keep your vendors and existing rebates
Let Foodbuy fill the rebate gaps
Receive monthly itemized rebate cheques and reports
Click here to learn about some of Foodbuy Canada's latest contracted service providers. Services include:
Staff Scheduling & Retention Programs
Draught Quality Assurance Program
Linen Uniform Service
Cleaning Services
Product Sourcing
And more!
Questions?
Martin Brochu - martin.brochu@foodbuy.ca
JJ Fraser - jj.fraser@foodbuy.ca
WORTH Association Mentorship Program
The WORTH Association Mentorship Program enables a relationship with a professional in the recreation, tourism, and hospitality field. Mentees will be matched with an experienced leader who will be your mentor for a 6-month period. Over that duration, the mentees will have the opportunity to engage with a positive role model, build leadership skills, and develop connections within the community with the goal of accelerating their leadership ambitions. In addition to regular mentorship conversations, the program includes access to WORTH Association events, resources, and workshops.
The Fall 2023 intake runs from October 2023-March 2024. Applications for mentor and mentee spots are being accepted now.
Click here if you are interested in applying for the WORTH mentorship program.