Weekly Liquor Industry Update: April 21, 2022
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's what you'll find inside today's update:
Hiring Foreign Workers Webinar with Alison Langford, May 11
BC Seeking Feedback on Cannabis Consumption Spaces
Update on Possible BCGEU Strike
Comox and Campbell River Liquor Industry Meetings May 5
LRS & LP Committee Meetings April 28
DVBIA State of Downtown 2022
Golf For A Cause - BCHF Needs Your Support
Out and About with ABLE BC!
Find all past updates here.
Hiring Foreign Workers Webinar with Alison Langford May 11
On Wednesday, May 11 at 10:00 am we will be hosting a webinar with Alison Langford, Workforce Strategist for the BC Hotel Association (BCHA) on hiring foreign workers. Alison will walk us through the options for hiring Temporary Foreign Workers, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA), and other foreign labour issues.
If you have specific questions about hiring foreign workers, please submit them here.
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Location: Zoom
Please RSVP by Monday, May 9, 2022 to Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication at ann@ablebc.ca or by clicking here.
Hiring Foreign Workers Webinar RSVP
BC Seeking Feedback on Cannabis Consumption Spaces
The BC Government is seeking input on cannabis consumption spaces. ABLE BC is planning to submit feedback based on our members input. Please let us know your thoughts here.
A cannabis consumption space is a general term that refers to a business, special event or other establishment providing cannabis for sale and use on-site.
The Province is considering whether to allow cannabis consumption spaces and, if so, how they should be regulated. Feedback from will help inform decisions by the Province on whether to allow consumptions spaces, and if so, how this should be done.
Read the discussion paper on cannabis consumption engagement here. Click here for more information.
You can send in your own feedback here, but we encourage you to fill out our survey so we can submit an informed and united message from BCs private liquor industry.
The Government is accepting feedback until May 9, 2022. Our survey will be open until May 6, 2022.
HELPFUL LINKS
ABLE BC Resources
Visit our COVID-19 Resources page for Liquor Primary COVID Best Practices, template signage, recent policy changes, and more.
Public Health Orders
Visit this page to download all current regional and provincial public health orders.
BC's Restart Plan
Visit the BC Government website for more information on the four-step
Restart Plan.
go2HR Resources
Visit the go2HR website for COVID-19 FAQ for Employers, HR information and updates, and more.
Update on Possible BCGEU Strike
As we reported last week, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which includes LDB warehouse workers, is in negotiations for a new contract. According to media reports, the union has started an information campaign advising members of a possible strike vote as early as May.
We share your concerns about a possible strike and are continuing to monitor. We have been in talks with government and will provide updates and details as we are able.
We can assure you that government is invested in protecting the integrity of the supply chain and will take measures to ensure there are no disruptions or negative effect on your businesses.
At this time, we are confident the supply chain will remain intact. There is no need to stockpile products or increase your orders.
Please reach out to info@ablebc.ca if you have questions or concerns.
Comox and Campbell River Liquor Industry Meetings May 5
ABLE BC has started in-person meetings again! Earlier this week we visited with members in Victoria and Nanaimo, and now we are planning meetings in Comox and Campbell River on Thursday, May 5, 2022. We hope to see you there!
These meetings are open to owners, managers, and staff members from liquor stores, pubs, bars, nightclubs, hotels, and other liquor industry professionals. We are inviting both ABLE BC members and non-members, so please feel free to pass this invitation along to your hospitality and retail colleagues.
Come meet ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, for a discussion of:
What is ABLE BC and how do we work?
Update on current liquor industry issues
Learn about the issues ABLE BC is advocating for and our progress on key policy priorities
Learn about ABLE BC benefit programs
Connect with other licensees and ABLE BC members in your area
Question and answer period with ABLE BC Executive Director, Jeff Guignard
We look forward to meeting you face-to-face to hear about the issues that matter most to you and your businesses!
Comox Details:
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2022
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: TBD, Comox, BC
Campbell River Details:
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2022
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Anchor Inn & Suites, 261 Island Highway, Campbell River, BC
Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 5 to Ann Brydle (Manager of Membership and Communication) at ann@ablebc.ca.
RSVP for Comox
RSVP for Campbell River
LRS & LP Policy Committee Meetings
Interested in helping set ABLE BC’s policy priorities and government relations strategies? Join one of our policy committees and work directly with ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, to tackle our industry’s most urgent liquor retail and liquor primary issues.
ABLE BC members are invited to join our Licensee Retail Store and Liquor Primary policy committees, both meeting on Thursday, April 28, 2022.
Committees set their own agenda and, in concert with ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard, report directly to ABLE BC’s Board of Directors. Committee members will be asked to consider the most urgent and critical challenges in their respective sectors, as well as practical tactics to address these issues with government.
Licensee Retail Store Policy Committee:
Liquor Primary Policy Committee:
To join a committee, or to submit issues you’d like the committee to discuss, please contact Jeff Guignard at jeff@ablebc.ca.
Please RSVP to Ann Brydle (Manager of Membership and Communications) and indicate which committee you would like to join by Wednesday, April 27.
DVBIA State of Downtown 2022
The State of Downtown event is back!
Join a panel of industry specialists as they share their insights and expertise on how downtown Vancouver fared during the past year, as well as their outlook for the future.
Date: Wednesday, April 27
Time: 3:30 pm- 6:00 pm
Location: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Pacific Ballroom. 900 W Georgia St, Vancouver
Panelists:
Jeff Guignard, Executive Director, Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC)
Andrew Petrozzi, Director Research, Western Canada Commercial, Altus Group
Paulina Cameron, CEO, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
Moderator:
Nolan Marshall III, President and CEO, Downtown Vancouver BIA
FREE for DVBIA members. Refreshments and two drinks per person included.