COVID-19 Update: March 4, 2021

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s update:

  • ABLE BC Policy Committee Meetings on Friday

  • New consumer confidence video: know before you go to BC’s pubs & bars

  • BC Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant Program extended

  • Save the date: Monthly Q&A with ABLE BC’s Executive Director on March 25

  • ABLE BC Member Discount: Sting Investigations due diligence compliance checks

  • PST applies to retail sales of soda beverages

  • New 2021 Check Photo ID stickers and posters available

  • New BC Chamber of Commerce CEO

  • Provincial government update: preventing renovictions and extending rent freeze

  • Federal government update: extending COVID-19 emergency wage and rent subsidies

  • City of Vancouver: patio permits update

  • BC Wine Industry Insight Conference: March 18

  • Virtual craft beer tasting: March 9

  • Provincial state of emergency extended

Find all past COVID-19 updates here.

ABLE BC Policy Committee Meetings on Friday

ABLE BC members are invited to join our policy committees: Liquor Primary Policy Committee, Licensee Retail Store Committee, and Cannabis Retail Store Committee.

The purpose of these committees is to help inform ABLE BC’s policy priorities and government relations strategies and solicit direct member feedback. Committees will meet monthly with ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard.

If you are interested in participating, we invite you to join us on Zoom tomorrow for our first committee meetings: 

  • LRS Policy Committee Meeting: Friday, March 5 at 10:00 am

  • LP Policy Committee Meeting: Friday, March 5 at 11:00 am

  • Cannabis Retail Store Policy Committee Meeting: Friday, March 5 at 12:00 pm

Please RSVP to Danielle Leroux (ABLE BC’s Director of Membership and Communications) and indicate which committee you would like to join: danielle@ablebc.ca.

Please come to the meeting on March 5 with ideas of the most urgent challenges in your respective sector that need to be addressed by government. We’ll also discuss what ABLE BC is currently working on and practical tactics for government relations.

If you have any questions about the committees, please contact Jeff: jeff@ablebc.ca.

New consumer confidence video: know before you go to BC’s pubs & bars

ABLE BC is proud to partner with TIABC to produce a consumer confidence video detailing the extensive protocols businesses have in place to ensure the health and safety of guests and staff.

Watch the ‘know before you go’ to BC’s pubs & bars video. Please consider sharing the video on your social networks and with your customers. 

In the video, ABLE BC’s Executive Director shares the protocols our industry has in place and best practices and tips for patrons when going out.
Watch the video here.

BC Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program extended

The BC government has extended the deadline for the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program to ensure businesses have the time they need to apply.

One of the main requirements has also been lowered to ensure more businesses are eligible.

The time to apply for the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program has been extended from March 31, 2021, to August 31, 2021.

The previous requirement for a business to have experienced at least a 70% revenue loss at some point in March or April 2020 has been adjusted. Now, a business is required to demonstrate only a 30% revenue loss in any one month between March 2020 to the point of application.

The $345-million Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully funded grants to businesses that employ up to 149 B.C. residents. Grants of $10,000 to a maximum of $30,000 are available, with up to an additional $5,000 to $15,000 available to tourism-related businesses.

Learn more and apply here.

Save the date: Monthly Q&A with ABLE BC’s Executive Director on March 25

Last week, we kicked off a new monthly event series: a Q&A with ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! The virtual meeting will be held on the last Thursday morning of every month throughout 2021. ABLE BC members and non-members welcome.

Join us at the next meeting: Thursday, March 25 at 10:00 am PT. RSVP: danielle@ablebc.ca.

What to expect and why to attend:

  • Catch up on anything you’ve missed over the last month

  • Hear directly from our Executive Director about the state of BC’s liquor industry

  • Get an update on our advocacy work and progress

  • Ask questions about liquor policy, regulations, public health orders, and government relations

  • We’ll also be joined by members of ABLE BC’s Board of Directors

Note: all ABLE BC members welcome. Non-members are welcome to attend one monthly Q&A throughout 2021.

ABLE BC Member Discount: Sting Investigations due diligence compliance checks

ABLE BC Associate Member Sting Investigations is pleased to offer members a discount on staff due diligence checks: purchase a check for $75 (regular $100) until March 31, 2021. Sign-up here. 

By performing a due diligence check at your establishment, Sting Investigations can help you improve your business from an investigative point of view, ensure your employees are following the Liquor Control and Licensing Rules, and enhance your customer service.

Do your due diligence. Make sure your staff is in compliance with the law. Sign-up for compliance checks.

Your customized compliance check reviews:

  • Checking IDs

  • Serving of intoxicated patrons

  • Problem resolution

  • Customer service

  • Facility and operations management

  • Cash handling

  • Promotions

  • NEW: COVID-19 compliance (i.e. signage, hand sanitizer, appropriate physical distancing, capacity, masks are being worn)

For more information please contact Sting Investigations: 1-877-717-8464 or info@stinginvestigations.ca.

This discount is only available to ABLE BC Members. Not yet a member? Join today!

PST applies to retail sales of soda beverages

As announced in British Columbia’s Budget 2020, effective April 1, 2021, PST applies to soda beverages, that include soft drinks, soda pop, sparkling fruit juices, kombucha, and frozen sweetened beverages such as Slurpees. PST applies to all beverages in a vending machine if the vending machine dispenses any soda beverages. All beverages dispensed by a soda fountain or soda gun are also subject to PST. 

For details about how PST applies to soda beverages please see Notice 2021-002, Notice to Sellers of Soda Beverages.  

Subscribe to the Ministry of Finance’s What’s New page to receive email updates when information changes.

New 2021 Check Photo ID stickers and posters available

New in the ABLE BC online store: 2021 Check Photo ID Stoplight laminated signs ($5.00) and stickers ($2.50).

Also available in our store:

Plus free COVID-19 resources:

New BC Chamber of Commerce CEO

The BC Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Fiona Famulak as president and chief executive officer. Famulak brings to the role more than three decades of international experience working in both private and not-for-profit sectors.

As former president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, and CEO of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, being of service to others and listening and responding to the needs of the community is at the core of what Fiona does. Her natural passion for connecting with people and building community around meaningful conversations, will help catalyze positive change for businesses across British Columbia as they navigate through and beyond the current challenging times.

A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a former small business owner, Famulak will lead the BC Chamber team as it continues to support building resiliency in businesses across the province.

ABLE BC looks forward to working with Fiona in the coming months. Please join us in welcoming her to the role!

Provincial government update: preventing renovictions and extending rent freeze

On March 1, the provincial government announced legislative changes, if passed, that will extend the rent freeze to December 31, 2021.

The changes will also cap future rent increases to inflation, stop illegal renovictions, and make the dispute resolution process better for tenants and landlords.

“The changes mean no more tenants will face eviction notices for phoney renovations that were never going to happen,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver West-End, on behalf of David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. “By putting an end to this kind of bullying behaviour, meant to drive out long-term tenants and jack up the rent, we’re protecting renters and supporting rental housing providers who do proactive maintenance of their rental homes.”

To protect tenants, landlords will be required to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) before they can terminate a tenancy agreement for the purpose of renovating. In addition, landlords will not be able to end tenancies for renovations that are not substantial or do not require the rental unit to be vacant. These changes, if passed, will come into effect on July 1, 2021, and are in addition to earlier protections introduced in 2018.

With the Province having already introduced and extended a rent freeze during COVID-19, the new legislative changes to freeze rents until the end of the year will mean all renters who have received notice of a rent increase that would have taken effect after March 30, 2020, and before January 1, 2022, can disregard those notices. Starting in 2022 and beyond, rent increases will be capped at the rate of inflation, fulfilling a commitment by government.

Read more.

Federal government update: extending COVID-19 emergency wage and rent subsidies

The Canadian government is extending the COVID-19 emergency wage and rent subsidies until the beginning of June.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and lockdown support measures, set to expire on March 14, will now be extended to June 5.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the maximum wage subsidy rate would remain at 75%, and the maximum rent subsidy will be 65%. She added that lockdown support would remain at 25%, with the government providing hard-hit businesses with rent support of 90%.

Read more. Find the backgrounder for the announcement here.

City of Vancouver: patio permits update

As part of the City of Vancouver’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are invited to apply for a temporary patio permit (free) for the upcoming spring/summer patio season, April 1 to October 31, 2021. 

You can now apply for a spring/summer temporary patio permits as of March 1.

How to prepare your patio application:

To apply for your temporary patio permit, visit vancouver.ca/temporarypatio 

The City of Vancouver has shared the following message on having a safe patio season: 

The City of Vancouver’s top priority is the health and safety of our residents. City staff will be working to ensure that the Temporary Expedited Patio program continues to support business recovery efforts and balances their responsibility to keep pedestrians and patio-goers healthy and safe and maintain accessibility in public spaces. 

To protect the health and safety of residents, patios should not: 

  • Restrict accessibility or reduce space for physical distancing on the sidewalk.

  • Encroach too far onto the street, which may negatively impact other road users or interrupt City street cleaning, utility or construction work.

  • Reduce the open-air aspect of the patio with additional structures or enclosures (COVID-19 transmission concern).

  • Block access to critical utilities such as fire department connections.

 The City is committed to supporting local businesses. We hope that by continuing to offer the temporary patio permit at no cost, more businesses can safely welcome customers while maintaining physical distancing.  

For more information, visit vancouver.ca/temporarypatio

BC Wine Industry Insight Conference: March 18

Mark your calendars! March 18 is the annual BC Wine Industry Insight Conference co-presented by Wine Growers British Columbia (formerly the BC Wine Institute), BC Wine Grape Council, BC Grapegrowers’ Association, and the BC Wine Authority.

The conference provides an engaging forum for industry to learn about industry-related topics, issues, policies and opportunities that affect business operations. This year’s theme, Navigating the Future – Together, encompasses an exciting line-up of topics focused on best practices for operating in our new reality.

Conference organizers are extremely excited to welcome keynote speaker Lane Merrifield, “Dragon” on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and Tech Entrepreneur, along with featured speaker Lulie Halstead, CEO, Wine Intelligence.

Check out WineBC.com for the full agenda along with a list of featured speakers and break-out sessions.

Virtual craft beer tasting: March 9

As part of the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference, TIABC and BCHA are excited to host a BC Craft Beer Tasting on Tuesday, March 9 from 4:30 to 5:30pm PST (they will keep the Zoom call going after the session for anyone who wishes to socialize over their new-found favourite BC Craft beer!)

In this interactive and educational session, join Dave Pearson of Vancouver Island Brewing, a Certified Cicerone (Beer Sommelier), who will discuss three types of beer: Hazy IPA, Pilsner, and Porter/Stout/Dark Lager. Dave will also provide some insights into the history of beer, food & beer pairing, and proper beer serving etiquette.

Purchase a sample of each of the beer styles (Hazy IPA, Pilsner, and Porter/Stout/Dark Lager) from your favourite local craft brewery or local liquor store and join us for a great session.

To learn more and to register, click here.

Provincial state of emergency extended

On March 2, the Province of British Columbia formally extended the provincial state of emergency, allowing health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act (EPA) to support the Province’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

The state of emergency is extended through the end of the day on March 16, 2021, to allow staff to take the necessary actions to keep British Columbians safe and manage immediate concerns and COVID-19 outbreaks.

The Province continues, with the support of police and other enforcement officials, to use measures under the EPA to limit the spread of COVID-19, including issuing tickets to owners, operators and event organizers who host an event or gathering contravening the PHO’s orders.

On July 10, 2020, the COVID-19 Related Measures Act came into force, enabling provisions created for citizens and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to continue as needed should the provincial state of emergency end.

Read more.

Ann Brydle