COVID-19 Update: January 14, 2021
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s update:
ABLE BC Annual General Meeting: February 16
New Year’s Eve and upcoming meeting with Dr. Henry
Province makes changes to simplify and clarify emergency orders
Food delivery service fees cap: complaints webpage
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Update
Exemption to the mandatory mask order in British Columbia
LDB Wholesale Customer Satisfaction Survey
go2HR COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service
Invitation to La Rioja Food & Wine Virtual Event
BC Beer Con Returns Virtually for 2021
Info Session on January 26: Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
BC Hospitality Foundation: online lottery tickets on sale now!
Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.
As always, if you have any additional questions or need to reach us you can email: jeff@ablebc.ca or danielle@ablebc.ca.
ABLE BC Annual General Meeting: February 16
On Tuesday, February 16, 2020 at 10:00 am, ABLE BC is hosting our Annual General Meeting virtually. All members in good standing with the Alliance are invited to attend. All non-members are also encouraged to attend, but cannot vote.
The AGM will be held via Zoom. Please RSVP by February 15 to Danielle Leroux (Director of Membership and Communications): danielle@ablebc.ca. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the AGM.
The AGM agenda will include:
Introducing our newly elected 2020-21 Board of Directors
Update on 2019-20 activities
Presentation of the Alliance’s 2019-20 Financial Statements and Annual Report
Discussion about the policy issues and COVID-19 recovery efforts ABLE BC’s Board of Directors will focus on in 2021
New business
RSVP now. If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact jeff@ablebc.ca.
New Year’s Eve and upcoming meeting with Provincial Health Officer
As we shared in last week’s update, ABLE BC was deeply frustrated and disappointed with the surprise Public Health Order banning liquor sales past 8:00 pm on New Year’s Eve. We know the order also caused many of you significant financial harm, and articulated this quite bluntly in media and with government.
As a follow-up to New Year’s Eve, we will be meeting directly with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Henry very soon to discuss a new and more collaborative process that will avoid last minute public orders in the future – particularly those around major holidays and industry dates.
Province makes changes to simplify and clarify emergency orders
The Province is fine-tuning compliance and enforcement provisions for orders on face coverings, gatherings and events, and food and liquor serving premises.
These changes, announced on January 8, are designed to provide greater clarity and certainty for enforcement officers and violators who are ticketed under the orders.
The orders fall under the Emergency Program Act. These changes simplify the language and make the orders, and what constitutes a contravention, easier to understand.
The intent of the orders remains unchanged and will continue to allow violation tickets to be issued to non-compliant persons, owners and operators, and hosts to ensure public safety and alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes include:
More clarity around the specific prohibitions found in public health orders for gatherings and events and for food and liquor serving premises
An amended face coverings order, with an additional exemption for persons who need to remove a face covering to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired
No other substantive policy changes have been made.
British Columbians are reminded under current public health orders, police and provincial enforcement officers can issue:
$2,300 tickets to hosts/organizers who do not comply with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) orders
$230 tickets to patrons/attendees who do not comply with the PHO orders
$230 tickets for contravening the face coverings order
$230 tickets for abusive or belligerent behaviour and/or for refusing to comply with the direction of enforcement officers.
In addition, courts can impose penalties of up to $10,000 and/or up to one-year imprisonment for egregious offences.
For more information:
BC Government news release
PHO Public Order: Gatherings and Events
PHO Public Order: Food and Liquor Serving Premises and Retail Establishments, which sell liquor
Food delivery service fees cap: complaints webpage
As per the Emergency Program Act (EPA) order, effective December 27, 2020, food delivery services providers can only charge restaurants and pubs a fee up to 15% of the customer’s order (before tax) for delivery services, and 5% for other related services. This order also prohibits food delivery service providers from reducing compensation to drivers or retaining drivers’ tips.
The LCRB will be managing enforcement of this order. For further information on complaints and how to submit a complaint about a food delivery services provider that is not following the new EPA order, you can visit this LCRB webpage.
It’s important to note that the complaint process is only for businesses and establishments that serve food and/or liquor and delivery drivers to submit a complaint about a large food delivery services provider (those that provide services to 500 or more restaurants in BC).
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Update
Last week, details of the next Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) claim periods were finalized with the following changes:
The maximum top-up subsidy rate is 35%
The maximum subsidy amount for employees on leave with pay is $595
Exemption to the mandatory mask order in British Columbia
British Columbia’s Office of the Humans Rights Commissioner created a poster on exemptions to the mandatory mask order in British Columbia.
Download the poster here. A text version is provided below.
You don’t have to wear a mask if:
You are under 12 years old
You are unable to wear a mask because of a health condition or physical or mental impairment
You are unable to put on or remove a mask without help from another person
People who are able to wear a mask but who choose not to as a matter of preference are not exempt.
People who are not exempt but refuse to wear a mask in an indoor public setting could be subject to a fine.
If a person claims a mask exemption, take them at their word. Proof should not be required.
Business owners cannot be fined for allowing people without masks to enter their place of business.
Download the poster here.
LDB Wholesale Customer Satisfaction Survey
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is committed to providing the highest level of service to its customers.
Liquor Wholesale Operations is surveying customers to gather information on their experiences so that they can focus attention and resources on areas necessary to better meet your needs.
This survey is designed to capture the performance of the Wholesale Operations division over the past 12 months. Service provided by Brewer’s Distributor Ltd (BDL), Commercial Logistics (beer deliveries) and direct product distribution and delivery services should not be reflected in your responses.
The survey should take 15 minutes to complete. Please note the deadline for completing the survey is 5:00 pm, January 31, 2021. Please only submit one survey response per license or location.
The LDB values your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey.
go2HR COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service
On January 7, the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) extended the existing orders directed at individuals, places of work and businesses in British Columbia, requiring them to continue limiting their level of social interactions and non-essential travel. The orders, originally introduced last November, are now set to remain in effect until midnight on February 5, or as otherwise advised by the PHO.
go2HR Supports Tourism and Hospitality Businesses by offering COVID-19 Safety Plan Review Service
All businesses across the province are being urged to remain vigilant, follow their COVID-19 safety plans, and update those plans as needed. It is strongly recommended that you take the time to review and update your COVID-19 safety plan without delay and incorporate the requirements of the orders, as they relate to your particular business.
With this in mind, go2HR has launched a new program to help tourism and hospitality businesses review their COVID-19 safety plans.
Their health and safety experts will review your safety plan and provide recommendations and targeted feedback to help ensure ongoing compliance with current requirements. To register for this complimentary service, click here.
If you have any questions regarding these extended orders or need support with any aspect of your safety plan, please contact go2HR via phone: 604-633-9787, email: safety@go2hr.ca or visit their Maintaining Your COVID-19 Safety Plan webpage. go2HR’s qualified health and safety staff are available to assist and we look forward to supporting you and your team.
Invitation to La Rioja Food & Wine Virtual Event
The Business Federation of La Rioja invites importers to La Rioja Food & Wine Virtual Mission: an international event where you can have virtual meetings with Rioja producers (Spain). All meetings will be done through a secure website platform.
To learn and more and participate, please click here. The mission takes place on the dates of your selection from January 25 to March 15, 2021.
Some tips when registering:
Importers will select the companies to meet
Your contact data will not be public in the web platform
The video calls will be requested by you and confirmed by sellers, through the online platform
The Business Federation of La Rioja will send to you the selection of Rioja companies that have shown priority interest in meeting you
In a first online interview, you can check your potential of collaboration with the client; then if agreed, the Rioja producer may send to you the samples, and then you can arrange a second meeting to make a virtual tasting
Learn more and register here.
BC Beer Con Returns Virtually for 2021
BC Beer Con will return virtually to a monitor near you from February 3 to 5, 2021.
The BC Craft Brewers Conference, hosted by the BC Craft Brewers Guild and presented by Great Little Box Company | Ideon Packaging, brings together key stakeholders from the Canadian craft brewing industry for an annual networking and educational event.
From February 3 to 5, brewery staff, brewing students, and beer enthusiasts are invited to take part in various educational seminars and keynotes to gear up 2021. The three days are divided into half-day tracks, broken out into Brewing, Marketing & Sales, Operations and Finance.
Tickets to BC Beer Con are now available here, with 50 per cent of every ticket sold supporting the Canadian Craft Brewers Association to create a more inclusive and diverse beer community.
BC Craft Brewers Guild member breweries and Associate Members, Canadian Craft Brewers Association Members, and Brewing School Students can attend for $20 plus applicable taxes, and public or non-member tickets are available for $50 plus applicable taxes.
For more information on BC Beer Con, please visit: www.bccraftbrewersconference.com
Info Session on January 26: Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
Does your BC owned business employ up to 149 people? Did you experience a 70% drop immediately after restaurants were closed in March? Are you still 30% below 2019 revenue levels?
The Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant is available for businesses needing investments to pivot to respond to COVID-19.
Join the BCRFA’s info session on Monday, January 26 at 10:00 am to have your questions answered about this important recovery program.
The program offers grants of $10,000 to $30,000 and runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first. The program allows businesses to create and submit a recovery plan that identifies targeted investments that will help the business build back.
Ideas of investments for consideration: funds to help with approved patio expansions; installing patio heaters, display coolers and freezers; constructing pick up windows; purchasing energy efficient appliances.
Meeting Details
Date: Monday, January 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 am
Zoom Meeting ID: 873 4176 7262
Speaker: Elizabeth Vickery, Executive Director, Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant Program
For more information, please contact:
Samantha Scholefield
Marketing & Event Management
BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association
samantha@sasparilla.ca
BC Hospitality Foundation: online lottery tickets on sale now!
The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is pleased to announce it will benefit from an online lottery held in conjunction with Destination Greater Victoria and the BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association (BCRFA), Victoria Branch to support Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria. Tickets will be on sale from January 14 to February 7, 2021.
The prizes for the lottery offer an appealing range of culinary and tourism opportunities.
Learn more and buy your tickets here.