COVID-19 Advocacy Work

 

Since the start of the pandemic, ABLE BC has been working hard every single day to advocate for your interests, protect your businesses, and help ensure the survival of our industry.

 
 

Keeping you Informed

Things moved fast and we worked hard to get answers for you.

ABLE BC has sent over 220 daily and weekly email updates since March 2020 giving you the information you need to know - in a clear and concise format.

Being your voice

During the COVID-19 crisis, ABLE BC has been an active participant on multiple committees focused on managing the crisis and reopening the province.

We speak with senior officials at all levels of government on a daily and weekly basis to advocate for your interests, gain clarity on public orders and regulations, and share the devastating impact of COVID-19 on your businesses. We also pushed for rationale and data to support hospitality industry closures, banning in-dining, and travel restrictions.

Hearing your concerns

At the start of COVID, we began hosting regular Zoom calls to update you on rapidly changing policies, answer your questions about public orders, and get your feedback on current protocols.

Since April 2020, we’ve put out over 10 surveys to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on your businesses. Your feedback has played an essential role in informing our government relations and advocacy efforts and securing more financial support for your businesses.

In February 2021, we kicked off our new monthly Q&A series with ABLE BC’s Executive Director where we update you on policy changes, our advocacy work, and the state of BC’s liquor industry.

Historic Policy Wins

Hospitality Pricing: effective July 20, 2020, hospitality customers can purchase products at wholesale price. The policy was made permanent on February 23, 2021. This is one of the most important and significant liquor policy changes in a generation.

The pricing change will help thousands of pubs and restaurants walk back from the brink of bankruptcy and give them a legitimate chance at surviving the pandemic.

Selling to Special Event Permits: on July 13, 2021, the provincial government announced a significant policy win for liquor retailers. For the first time in our industry’s history, private liquor retailers can sell to Special Event Permit holders.

This change not only introduced a new revenue stream for private liquor retailers, it also corrected the previous unfair policy of forcing consumers to purchase only from the government’s BC Liquor Stores.

Although industry has been seeking both of these policy changes for years, these policies came as a direct result of ongoing advocacy work by ABLE BC and the Business Technical Advisory Panel.

Policy changes

In addition to the historic wins above, a number of policy changes made during the COVID-19 crisis were in direct response to the advocacy work of ABLE BC, the Business Technical Advisory Panel, and our industry partners:

  • Temporary authorization for hospitality customers to sell their existing liquor stock

  • Temporary extension of patio and service areas with expedited provincial approval and simplified online process

  • Temporary authorization for liquor manufacturers to direct deliver

  • Liquor and food primaries can permanently sell alcohol with takeaway and delivery meals

  • Liquor and food primaries can permanently sell cocktails with takeaway and delivery meals

  • Liquor stores can permanently extend their hours from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm

Advocacy work

Some of the other issues ABLE BC has played a key role in advocating for and pushing forward, to help ensure the long-term survival of our industry, include:

  • Worked with municipalities to delay or defer property tax increases

  • Helped increase capacity at Vancouver’s liquor primary establishments by fixing outdated occupancy load calculations

  • Secured extension of temporary layoff provisions to August 30, 2020

  • Ensured liquor and cannabis stores were defined as an essential service in BC preventing their closure during the pandemic

  • Raised concerns about mandatory paid sick leave for employees to receive vaccinations

  • Advocated for working capital grants and adjustments to the federal rent and wage subsidy programs, and raised concerns that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit disincentivized employees from working

Download our COVID-19 Advocacy Report to learn more.

Funding and Grants

ABLE BC pushed for urgent and direct financial support for BC’s hospitality industry and helped you get access to funding:

  • $300 million Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant: grants up to $45,000 for businesses impacted by COVID-19. The fund was a direct result of work by ABLE BC and our industry partners.

  • $125 million Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant: grants of up to $20,000 for businesses impacted by the April 2021 circuit breaker public order. The fund was a direct result of work by ABLE BC and our industry partners.

  • 15 per cent cap on delivery service fees: in place until three months after the provincial state of emergency is lifted. This change was a direct result of work by ABLE BC and the BCRFA.

  • BDC loans: got the liquor and cannabis industries access to BDC loans

  • Federal support: successfully pushed to have the wage and rent subsidies extended

We continue to push for government to provide new financial support for BC’s hospitality industry. Download our COVID-19 Advocacy Report to learn more.

Reopening industry

ABLE BC worked with the Provincial Health Officer, WorkSafeBC, and other senior government officials on the safe and logical reopening of our industry.

We also worked with the PHO and her team on an ongoing basis to amend and clarify public orders for Food and Liquor Serving Premises and Gatherings and Events. Changes we advocated for include:

  • Removed the 1.2m height requirement for physical barriers

  • Removed food service requirement for liquor primaries to reopen

  • Removed 50 per cent capacity limit

  • Permitted liquor primaries to reopen for takeaway and delivery

  • Permitted all liquor primaries to reopen

  • Permitted liquor primaries and food primaries to sell packaged liquor with the purchase of a takeaway or delivery meal

  • Allow lotto and self-serve terminals when patrons were required to be seated

Download our COVID-19 Advocacy Report to learn more.

Consumer Confidence

In spring 2020, we worked with the BCRFA, BC Craft Brewers Guild, Chefs Table Society of BC, and Wine Growers British Columbia on a public campaign to build consumer confidence for tasting experiences.

In March 2021, we launched a new consumer confidence video campaign with TIABC to tell British Columbians: it is safe to dine out and drink out in BC.

We also helped develop BSAFE: a free health and safety training program hosted by go2HR and designed to build customer and staff confidence in the health and safety protocols of BC’s tourism and hospitality industry.

ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard has regularly appeared on television, in the newspaper, on podcasts, and the radio to build consumer confidence, advocate for your interests, and support business operators.

Tools and Resources

Since the start of the pandemic, we have provided you with free tools and resources to support your business, including: signage templates, best practice guides, FAQ, and complimentary webinars.

We sought legal advice to ensure you know your responsibilities as an operator when requiring staff and customers to wear masks and asking about their vaccination status.

ABLE BC’s Associate Members stepped up in the face of the crisis and offered member discounts on their products and services. We also connected you with industry suppliers for PPE and other COVID-19 products.

Find more COVID-19 resources here.

Industry Experts

Since April 2020, we have hosted over 10 webinars with industry experts on topics ranging from crisis communications for BC’s hospitality industry, to employment security in the midst of a pandemic, positive employee relations, and what BC’s no-fault auto regime means for liquor liability.

Our annual BC Liquor Conference is now hosted in-person and online. No matter where you are in the province – tune in and get the liquor industry data, trends, and policy updates you can’t get anywhere else.