Post-Election Update, LDB Wholesale Single Bottle Picks, Upcoming Events, and more! ----------------------------------------------- |
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Liquor Industry Update: October 31, 2024 |
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Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private liquor industry: - 2024 Provincial Election
- LDB Wholesale Single Bottle Picks
Update: BC Lotto Issues - Pemberton Restaurant Industry Mixer
- BC Restaurants See Biggest Employment Drop of Any Province
- CFIB's Report on Rising Crime on Small Business
- Help Share the Future of Workforce Development in Tourism & Hospitality
- Rhône Valley Vineyards in Vancouver
What you'll find in every newsletter: |
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2024 Provincial Election
After three days of counting mail-in and absentee ballots and mandatory recounts for a few key ridings, Elections BC has confirmed that the BC NDP has secured 47 seats in BC’s Legislature. Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin has invited David Eby, leader of the BC NDP, to form BC’s next government.
ABLE BC congratulates Premier Eby and all MLAs elected to the legislature. We look forward to working with government and all elected officials in the months ahead. Over the next few weeks, the NDP transition team will be working on new mandate letters and determining the composition of the next cabinet. ABLE BC will work with new Ministers and MLAs to ensure that the issues that matter most to our industry remain at the forefront of these discussions. If you have questions about how ABLE BC works with government, please contact ABLE BC's Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, at jeff@ablebc.ca. |
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MLA Brenda Bailey, MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, Premier David Eby, Byron (GM of The Junction Pub), Jeff Guignard |
LDB Wholesale Single Bottle Picks The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) Wholesale Operations has completed its seasonal review of the single bottle pick service. Approximately 10 percent of the single bottle pick product selection has been refreshed and will continue to offer a selection of year-round spirits, champagnes, wines and liqueurs in 750ml and 1.14L volume format.
The updated list of all single bottle pick products is posted on the LDB Wholesale Operations website here. The 10 percent bottle pick rule – as applicable to specific customer types and outlined in the WCC Order Handbook – will continue to apply.
The single bottle pick service selection balances efficient distribution centre operations with customer demand, allowing LDB Wholesale Operations to focus on providing uninterrupted service to customers. The selection assortment will continue to be reviewed and assessed seasonally. |
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People Working Well
The CMHA BC and go2HR have created a resource for tourism and hospitality employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work. |
| Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter
Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for cannabis retailers. Click here to read past cannabis newsletters. |
| ABLE BC Member Portal The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact jesse@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in. |
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Update: BC Lotto Issues
The ABLE BC team meets regularly with the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) as they continue to resolve issues caused by new machines. Progress has been made on the most significant issues, and we are optimistic that remaining issues will be addressed efficiently and fairly.
BCLC recognizes the interruptions to their hospitality partners’ lottery business, particularly the disablement of the SST Bill Acceptors. BCLC is committed to addressing issues and, as a gesture of goodwill, will administer top-up payments to those affected. These payments are being processed now. BCLC retailers will also receive thank-you kits with items to help recognize and thank their dedicated staff and loyal players for their continued understanding, patience, and support. Kits began shipping on October 16 and will reach all retailers by mid-November. Your Territory Manager will be in touch with more details.
The BCLC team continues to work diligently to improve terminal functionality. If you have questions about BCLC, please contact ABLE BC's Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, at jeff@ablebc.ca. |
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Pemberton Restaurant Industry Mixer
The Pemberton Chamber of Commerce is hosting an informative evening of networking and learning at their upcoming Restaurant Industry Social Mixer Event on November 14th.
The event will take place at Mile One Eating House in Pemberton, BC and will include presentations from Food and Beverage Industry Experts Jeff Guignard of ABLE BC and Mark Von Schellwitz of Restaurants Canada.
The event will be free of charge, and we welcome all to join. $1 from each meal purchased at Mile One Eating House on November 14th will be donated to support the Pemberton Chamber of Commerce. |
Details:
- Date: Thursday, November 14
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Time: 6-9 pm
- Location: Mile One Eating House, 7-7330 Arbutus St, Pemberton BC
- Cost: Free
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BC Restaurants See Biggest Employment Drop of Any Province
Restaurants Canada reports that BC's restaurant industry is shedding jobs at an alarming rate and has experienced the largest year-over-year drop in employment of any province.
Employment in BC’s restaurant and accommodation sector dropped by 10,800 positions compared to September 2023, according to the latest Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada.
The industry lost nearly 5,000 jobs between August and September, falling to 176,700 positions, experiencing the lowest employment level since 2016, excluding the pandemic.
This trend is noted in Restaurants Canada’s Q3 report, which found that 70% of restaurant companies had fewer guests this summer than last summer and that profitability was lower by a staggering 81%. Overall, only 15% of restaurants say the current business climate is good or very good. |
CFIB's Report on Rising Crime on Small Business
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released its 2024 report, Broken Windows & Broken Trust: The Impact of Rising Crim on Small Business.
The report highlights a troubling rise in crime, with 29% of Canadian small businesses reporting a significant increase over the past 12 months. The primary concerns noted in the report include waste and litter (63%), vandalism or breaking and entering (63%), and theft or shoplifting (60%).
ABLE BC is aware of the severity of these issues in the BC hospitality and retail industry. We know many of our members are struggling with the financial, operational, and safety impacts of rising crime and vandalism, and we continue to work with government partners on solutions. |
Help Shape the Future of Workforce Development in Tourism & Hospitality
As proud supporters of go2HR, we’re reaching out to encourage you to participate in an important initiative. go2HR is embarking on its next strategic planning process, and your input is vital to ensuring its programs and services continue to meet the evolving needs of businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.
What do they need?
Just 15 minutes of your time to complete a quick survey that will directly influence the support, training, and resources available to your business. What’s in it for you? By completing the survey before November 1, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $500 in regional travel credits! As always, your responses are completely anonymous, and once submitted, you’re automatically entered into the contest. Take the Survey Now! Let’s make our voices heard and help go2HR tailor their offerings to better support our industry. |
Rhône Valley Vineyards in Vancouver
Join us for an industry training session presented by Kelcie Jones that brings the richness and diversity of Rhône Valley wines to life in Vancouver on November 19th. This event combines both theoretical content and tastings of 10 wines from the Rhône Valley, with lunch, at Delara restaurant. A unique opportunity to discover a renewed Rhône Valley offering.
Date: Tuesday, November 19th Time: 11 am-2 pm
Venue: Delara, 2272 W 4th Ave, Vancouver |
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Ask an Expert:
What to Expect after Unionization
Ryan Anderson, ABLE BC’s employment law expert and Partner at Mathews Dinsdale is back to continue his Ask An Expert series on unionization. This week, Ryan highlights what to expect immediately after a workplace becomes unionized.
Two of the most important changes that take immediate effect when a workplace unionizes are (i) new rules (e.g. a statutory freeze) that restrict an employer’s right to make unilateral decisions about their employees and (ii) obligations associated with negotiating a collective agreement (i.e. the duty to bargain in good faith).
The Statutory Freeze
The Labour Relations Code imposes a statutory freeze on unionized workplaces, preventing employers from changing employee pay and other employment terms until 12 months after unionization or the date a collective agreement is executed, whichever occurs first.
This business-as-usual requirement allows for planned changes, such as length of service or merit-based wage increases. Abandoning planned changes during this time could be deemed an unfair labour practice. While an employer remains free to make operational adjustments in the usual course of its business, employment terms must generally remain status quo during the freeze. Retaliation against union supporters is prohibited, and employers must have proper cause for any disciplinary actions during the freeze. Generally, an employer must establish that disciplinary actions, including dismissals, are based on justifiable reasons and not tainted by anti-union considerations.
The takeaway is that immediately following unionization, decisions that impact employees are subject to new legal requirements and may be scrutinized—and even overturned—by the Labour Relations Board. The Duty to Bargain in Good Faith
Following certification, the union will typically issue notice to commence collective bargaining. Technically, collective bargaining negotiations are supposed to commence within 10 days of such notice. However, in practice, negotiations typically commence on mutually convenient dates several weeks, sometimes months, later. There are no other rules concerning the timing or duration of negotiations, and there is no deadline for the parties to reach a collective agreement. The process often takes many months.
A unionized employer cannot ignore the collective bargaining process and has a duty to bargain in good faith – a legal obligation to make every reasonable effort to reach a collective agreement. Generally, this duty obligates the parties to meet, exchange proposals, and genuinely attempt to reach an agreement. While it's acceptable to disagree and maintain a firm position on particular items, some degree of compromise is required. Deliberate efforts to avoid reaching an agreement could be considered a violation of the duty to bargain in good faith.
As a business owner or manager, managing employee relations has always been part of your job. However, once unionized, that job becomes much more demanding. Navigating the legal obligations associated with unions, as well as negotiating a collective agreement, requires specialized labour relations expertise. That’s where the team at Mathews Dinsdale comes in. Reach out to Ryan Anderson at 604-638-2042 or randerson@mathewsdinsdale.com if you have any questions about unionization.
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Interested in becoming an ABLE Expert? Contact jesse@ablebc.ca to learn more. |
Cannabis Corner: Scheduled BC Cannabis Wholesale System Outage
On Friday, November 15, 2024, starting at 6:00 a.m., the BC Cannabis Wholesale website will be temporarily out-of-service to accommodate an update to the e-commerce platform hosted by Shopify. The outage is expected to last between four and 12 hours. The update is required to transition the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s (LDB) cannabis wholesale and retail e-commerce websites to Shopify’s global platform, as Shopify decommissions its existing Canadian platform and associated technical support. There will be no change to the website user/customer experience with this update.
Please note: during this brief outage of the e-commerce platform, order submission will be unavailable. Wholesale customers are advised to plan accordingly; please place any time-sensitive orders in advance of the outage period. Immediately following the update, order submission will re-open as usual. To minimize disruptions, the LDB will not merchandise and publish new or back-in-stock products on Friday, November 15.
The LDB is taking proactive measures to ensure a smooth transition by working closely with Shopify to conduct rigorous testing prior to the update, and robust security and risk analyses of the global platform have been completed.
This update will ensure the global e-commerce platform is in place and stable prior to the start of the holiday season.
Should you have any questions, please contact the BC Cannabis Customer Care Centre team at BusinessCustomerCareCentre@bcldb.com. |
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go2HR on Tap: Regulatory Requirements for Workplace First Aid
go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.
go2HR is excited to share our recorded webinar series on the new regulatory requirements for workplace first aid. With the upcoming changes taking effect on November 1, 2024, now is the time for bars, pubs, and retailers to understand the new standard, update their first aid programs, and ensure compliance.
The 3-part webinar series covers essential topics, including: - An overview of the new regulatory requirements,
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How to conduct a first aid assessment,
- Required procedural updates and industry best practices, and
- How to meet the new, mandatory first aid drill.
Click here to access the recordings and valuable resources including presentation slide decks, helpful one-pagers, templates, and examples of a completed assessment and procedural updates for a fictional tourism and hospitality business. Questions? Contact the Health & Safety team to book a free First Aid Consultation.
go2HR, the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of resources to support you. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees with health and safety at safety@go2HR.ca.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
The ABLE BC team has been out and about even more than usual lately. The whole team attended the BCRFA Hall of Fame Dinner last week to celebrate this year’s inductees. Jeff and Jesse were at the BC Craft Brewers Conference to meet with our brewery partners, and for Jeff to participate in the advocacy update panel discussion with other industry associations. Our LRS Policy Committee met earlier this week to discuss government relations strategy post-election.
We’re also looking forward to upcoming events! Jeff will be presenting to KPU brewery students next month on the role of industry associations and government relations. Jeff is also speaking to Pemberton Chamber of Commerce members next month. And we’re in the midst of planning our annual conference, post-holiday industry reception, and other member events in the new year. Stay tuned for more details soon!
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Bo, Ann, and Jeff at the BCRFA Hall of Fame Dinner |
| Jeff and panelists at the BC Craft Brewers Conference |
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Jeff and panelists at the BC Craft Brewers Conference |
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Jeff and Yvan at the BCRFA Hall of Fame Dinner |
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars Check out these upcoming events: - Yes Shef, Vancouver, November 6
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American Spirits Tour, Vancouver, November 7
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Restaurant Industry Social Mixer, Pemberton, November 14
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Rhône Valley Vineyards, Vancouver, November 19
- Getaway with wines of Portugal, Vancouver, December 3
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Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 22-March2, 2025
- BC Tourism Industry Conference, Vancouver, March 5-7, 2025
- Victoria Cocktail Week, April 13-20, 2025
- BCHA Summit, Vancouver, April 22-23, 2025
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