COVID-19 Update: November 18, 2021

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

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

  • Provincial State of Emergency Declared

  • Buy Local to Protect Against Supply Shortages

  • Financial assistance available for people affected by flooding

  • Interim Policy for Large Cash Transactions at BC Liquor Stores

  • ABLE BC Update: Paid Sick Leave

  • ABLE BC Annual LRS Survey Results: Webinar on November 26

  • Temporary receiving delays into LDB warehouse for select import products

  • 2021 BC Liquor Conference Photos now available

  • Scholarship Honouring Terry Threlfall Launched

  • Webinar on November 24: First Steps to Building a More Equitable, Inclusive, and Diverse Workplace

  • Winter 2021 issue of the Quarterly Pour is out

  • 2022 ABLE BC Media Kit is now available

  • Dolden Wallace Folick Insurance Seminar: November 25

  • December 13 Vaccination Requirements for LDB Service Providers

Find all past COVID-19 updates here.

Provincial State of Emergency Declared

Yesterday, the BC government declared a provincial state of emergency to mitigate impacts on transportation networks and movement of essential goods and supplies, and to support the province-wide response and recovery from the widespread damage caused by severe flooding and landslides in British Columbia.

“This province-wide declaration will help us with the challenges ahead as we recover from the utter devastation that’s been caused by this natural disaster,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Getting our rail and roadways back up and in operation is a top priority, and the declaration will enable us to put the resources in place to make that happen.”

The state of emergency is initially in effect for 14 days and made be extended or rescinded as necessary. The state of emergency applies to the whole province and ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response to protect the public, which remains the provincial government’s top priority.

The state of emergency gives agencies, such as the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Emergency Management BC, the RCMP and others the ability to use extraordinary measures to protect people and communities.

Read more.

Buy Local to Protect Against Supply Shortages

British Columbians everywhere are watching with sombre hearts as many of our communities are reeling from the devastating impacts of flooding, landslides, and forced evacuations. Major highways and railways remained closed, and we still don’t know the full impact to our transportation infrastructure.

With no viable trucking route between the Lower Mainland and Interior, we know many of you are worried about how you’ll keep your shelves stocked to service customers in the coming weeks.

To help support you during this crisis, BC’s 800 local breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries are partnering with private liquor retailers, restaurants, pubs, and bars to ensure you have the products you need. Right now, BC’s local liquor producers in your area are standing by to deliver products directly to your door.

If you need help connecting to local liquor producers in your area, BC’s liquor industry associations are stepping up to help connect you to businesses in your area.

BC Craft Brewers Guild

BC Craft Distilleries Guild

New Wave Wine Society (representing cideries, fruit, and mead wine)

Wine Growers BC

Producers looking to connect with retailers or hospitality businesses should visit:

While we all brace for weeks of disruptions to our supply chain, we will continue to circulate regular updates from the LDB, BDL, local producers, and our distribution partners as they become available. The latest update from the LDB is provided below.

We have been assured by BDL and the LDB that every effort is underway to find alternative routes to transport l restore transportation routes integrity of your supply chain.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Financial assistance available for people affected by flooding

Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) is now available for eligible British Columbians in southwest, central and southeast areas of the province and Vancouver Island who were affected by flooding and landslides from November 14-16, 2021.

This assistance includes all Indigenous communities, electoral areas and municipalities within the geographic boundaries of these areas.

DFA is available to homeowners, residential tenants, business owners, local governments, Indigenous communities, farmers and charitable organizations that were unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses. By regulation, DFA is unable to compensate for losses for which insurance was reasonably and readily available. DFA will assess each application using its legislative criteria in a fair and consistent way.

Applications for the DFA event must be submitted to Emergency Management BC (EMBC) by February 12, 2022.

British Columbians can access the DFA application online: http://www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance

Read more.

Business Supports: Supports for businesses impacted by disasters are available from the federal and provincial governments, community organizations and the private sector. 

Interim Policy for Large Cash Transactions at BC Liquor Stores

On November 17, the LDB sent out the following update to hospitality customers:

Please be advised that, effective immediately, BC Liquor Stores (BCLS) will no longer accept any cash transactions over five thousand dollars ($5,000). Transactions over $5,000 must be made using credit or debit card only. This applies to both retail customers and hospitality customers. 

Any changes to this interim policy will be communicated to hospitality customers. 

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

ABLE BC Update: Paid Sick Leave

As you will recall, the provincial government plans to introduce permanent paid sick leave for workers who cannot work to due to any illness beginning January 1, 2022.

In October, ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard met with Hon. Harry Bains, Minister of Labour about paid sick leave. He shared our members’ immense concerns that paid sick leave will add tens of millions of dollars to payroll costs at a moment when most of the industry is breaking even, or still losing money. We pushed him to delay any new costs to businesses, at least until our industry has recovered from the devastating financial impacts of this crisis.

On October 15, ABLE BC and other industry associations submitted a memo to the provincial government outlining the economic impacts of sick leave, including estimates for the annual employer cost of the permanent program.

In recent weeks, several validators in media have been promoting the idea of 10 days of paid sick leave, most recently from the Centre for Future Work. This report, prepared by an economist who worked for Unifor for 20 years, argues that “implementing this provision [i.e. 10 days of paid sick leave] would lead to an increase in total business expenses of just 0.21 per cent in British Columbia.” 

This is obviously problematic. The data that ABLE BC and other industry associations have collected (using Statistics Canada data, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s study, and other data sets) suggests that for three days of leave, it will cost employers between $404 million and $675 million, while five days of leave could cost between $506 million and $1.1 billion. 10 days of leave could cost between $1.0 billion and $2.2 billion.

How you can help

While the business community has already pushed back against this issue strongly, ABLE BC is coordinating with other associations now on possible next steps. We also need your help!

ABLE BC strongly encourages business owners and operators to meet with their MLA before the end of the year and tell them how much paid sick leave is going to cost your businesses.

Find your MLA here. Find data on the costs of paid sick leave here.

If you have any other questions or require further assistance, please contact info@ablebc.ca.

ABLE BC Annual LRS Survey Results: Webinar on November 26

Thank you to everyone who completed our 2021 LRS Benchmark Survey in October. Since 2018, ABLE BC in partnership with Paul Rickett (VARKETING!) has conducted an annual LRS benchmark survey. 

We are pleased to invite you to a complimentary webinar on Friday, November 26 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am PT where Paul will share the survey results in detail. We will also provide you with access to the survey results report.

During the latter half of this one-hour webinar, ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard will provide an update on the state of the industry, public health orders, and liquor policy, and answer any questions you may have about our advocacy work or current regulations.

Please RSVP to danielle@ablebc.ca. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the webinar. 

If you have any other questions or concerns please contact: Danielle Leroux (Director of Membership and Communications) at danielle@ablebc.ca.

Temporary receiving delays into LDB warehouse for select import products

LDB Wholesale Operations sent out the following update on November 16:

BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) Wholesale Operations is advising customers of some on-going delays impacting a selection of non-stocked import products coming into the LDB warehouse due to the current global supply chain challenges in the market.  

We have been informed that one of our agent warehouses is trying to reduce the delivery delays to the LDB to be within two days of the expected delivery date. These delays at the agent warehouse have and will continue to impact delivery times to our customers.   

We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate our customers’ patience while we continue to work with our agent warehouse partner to provide the necessary support to bring delivery timelines back to standard.  

In the meantime, we would like to kindly remind customers to build-up inventory early for the upcoming busy holiday season, if feasible. Thank you for sharing this notice with your members.

Key product shortages and supplier stock outs can be referenced on the LDB Wholesale Operations website at https://wholesale.bcldb.com/supplier-stock-outs.

We will continue to keep customers updated on this situation and look forward to providing a timeline for the resolution of these issues.

2021 BC Liquor Conference Photos now available

On October 25, 2021, ABLE BC hosted the sixth annual BC Liquor Conference online and in-person in Vancouver. Following the conference, delegates and sponsors joined us at an Industry Dinner hosted by Stanley Park Brewing.

View photos from the day. Thank you to our photographer Alison Boulier for capturing the event!

Scholarship Honouring Terry Threlfall Launched

Donations are now being accepted to create a legacy scholarship in the name of top Sommelier and wine professional Terry Threlfall. All donations can be made here and will receive a tax receipt.

About the Scholarship

A year after BC’s wine community lost on its most talented and accomplished members, a new scholarship is being launched to honour the memory of Terry Threlfall.

Meyer Family Vineyards has generously provided seed money for the scholarship fund through sales of the winery’s Tribute Series Chardonnay: Terry Threlfall.

The BC Hospitality Foundation welcomes online donations from individuals and businesses to help ensure Terry’s legacy lives on for many years.

The Terry Threlfall Scholarship is the result of a partnership between the BCHF, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers BC Chapter, and the Vancouver International Wine Festival. The scholarship will be presented annually at the VIWF Awards Lunch.

Learn more.

Webinar on November 24: First Steps to Building a More Equitable, Inclusive, and Diverse Workplace

Join TIABC for this next Wednesday Webinar series on November 24 at 11:00 am PT: First Steps to Building a More Equitable, Inclusive, and Diverse Workplace.

During this panel discussion, with MOSAIC and HR West facilitated by go2HR, you’ll learn more about the practical steps employers can take to embrace the principles of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, and take the essential first steps to create a more inclusive workplace.

Register here.

Winter 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour is out

Read the Winter 2021 Issue of the Quarterly Pour

Feature articles in this issue:

The Quarterly Pour is the official publication of ABLE BC.

2022 ABLE BC Media Kit Available 

Our 2022 media kit is now available: download here.

Build your business with all the private liquor stores, pubs, and bars in BC by targeting owners and managers with the industry’s most respected trade media:

The Quarterly Pour: quarterly B2B magazine with articles on trends, operations, marketing, and human resources.

ABLE BC Buyers’ Guide: annual directory of ABLE BC Associate Members

ABLE BC Industry Update: weekly e-newsletter highlighting industry news, changing regulations, upcoming events, and more

ABLE BC website: continually updated site with details on government regulations, industry events. and more

For more information on advertising opportunities please download the media kit and contact EMC Publications: info@emcmarketing.com or 604-574-4577

ABLE BC Associate Members receive a 10% discount on advertising.

Dolden Wallace Folick Insurance Seminar: November 25, 2021

Join Dolden Wallace Folick LLP for a Year in Reflection: Insurance Seminar on November 25, 2021 t 8:00 am PT.

The seminar will cover:

COVID-19 Caselaw and Trends

A review of cases related to COVID-19 and trends, including: primary coverage issues arising from COVID-19 business interruption claims, UK Supreme Court & Appeal Court business interruption test case, and the status of COVID-19 litigation in Canada and the US.

Cyber Liability in Canada in 2021

A review of the legislation, recent cases, and trends, including: the increase in privacy class action litigation, recent class action decisions, and an overview of Bill C-11 and expanded punitive powers under the proposed legislation.

Top 10 Coverage Cases 

A review of coverage cases from across Canada addressing key issues that will provide useful guidance for underwriters and claim handlers, including: misrepresentation, concurrent duties to defend, interpretation of Faulty Workmanship exclusion, additional insureds, the distinction between an “insurance contract” versus “insurance policy”, and aggregate limits.

Register: please register for this virtual seminar by sending your RSVP to reception@dolden.com.

December 13 Vaccination Requirements for LDB Service Providers

The LDB is reaching out to all customers who have or will pick-up product from BC Liquor Stores, the LDB Distribution Centre in Delta, or the Wholesale Customer Centre Victoria.

On October 5, the BC Public Service Agency (PSA) announced the BC Public Service would require its employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 effective November 22, 2021. 

In line with this policy, PSA and the LDB requires any service providers or customers entering employee-only areas of our indoor workplaces to be fully vaccinated effective December 13, 2021. 

Please note that customers are NOT subject to this policy if they are only accessing the sales floor or hospitality pickup area of a BCL location, entering the LDB Distribution Centre in Delta hospitality pick- up area or the hospitality pickup or reception are of WCC Victoria. All are considered common areas. 

All visitors are required to continue wearing masks in all areas of all LDB workplaces and maintain physical distancing guidelines. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your servicing location. Thank you for your support and consideration.

Ann Brydle