COVID-19 Update: November 19, 2020

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues, 

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

  • New COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory masks

  • New ABLE BC FAQ: What to do if you have a COVID-19 outbreak

  • Updated ABLE BC Handbook: Liquor Primary COVID-19 Best Practices

  • Maintaining your COVID-19 safety plan in response to the new regional order

  • New Container Recycling Fee rate change effective January 31, 2021

  • Province updates measures to enforce Lower Mainland COVID-19 public safety

  • BDO Rethink Virtual Conference on November 24

  • Destination BC: Virtual Industry Forum for Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

  • BC COVID-19 Tourism Impact Survey

  • Tourism Digital Academy intakes now open

  • 2021 Quarterly Pour and digital advertising media kit

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.

New COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory masks

This afternoon, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new verbal orders applicable to the entire province until December 7 at midnight, unless otherwise extended.

Please note a copy of the actual order is not yet available, and we will distribute as soon as it. Below is a summary of the verbal orders. Additional information can be found here.

  • Dr. Henry is extending the earlier order limiting private gatherings in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions until December 7 and making it apply province-wide. The order forbids British Columbians from hosting social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your household or core bubble. Core bubble is defined here.

  • The order does not impact restaurants and bars. Restaurants and bars can continue to operate as long as they have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and employee protocols in place. British Columbians are being advised:

    • You should only visit a restaurant with people in your household or core bubble. Maximum of six people at a table.

    • Reservations for private parties that include more than one household or core bubble must be cancelled.

  • WorkSafeBC will be conducting inspections to verify that COVID-19 Safety Plans remain effective. Restaurants and bars that are non-compliant with plan requirements may face orders and fines, and possible referral to public health, which may result in a closure order. Review the PHO order for Food and Liquor Serving premises here and WorkSafeBC’s resource on reviewing your COVID-19 safety plan here.

  • Dr. Henry asked Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth to implement a requirement for workers and members of the public to wear masks in all retail environments, restaurants, and indoor public spaces, including common areas of workplaces, except when eating or drinking. The order for mandatory masks is effective today.

  • High-risk indoor group fitness activities, including high intensity interval training, hot yoga, and spin classes will be suspended as well.

  • All community and social events are suspended for the next two weeks, even if they’re under 50 people. Funerals, weddings, and baptisms can continue with a maximum of 10 people, but there are to be no associated reception held – inside or outside your home.

  • All businesses that are open to the public must calculate the maximum number of people that can be accommodated to allow for adequate physical distancing. Note: this should have been part of your original COVID-19 safety plan.

  • Businesses are being asked to suspend any return to the office for employees who’ve been working at home.

  • Officials are asking everyone not to travel outside their communities for non-essential reasons and asking people from other provinces to postpone their trips here.

For more information, please visit the government website. We will circulate a copy of the order when it becomes available.

New ABLE BC FAQ: What to do if you have a COVID-19 outbreak

What do you do if employees have COVID-19 symptoms while at work or you have a COVID-19 outbreak in your workplace?

Download ABLE BC’s new FAQ for the steps to follow.

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

Updated ABLE BC Handbook: Liquor Primary COVID-19 Best Practices

It is vitally important that all operators are adhering to public health orders and WorkSafeBC regulations.
Download our newly updated Liquor Primary COVID-19 Best Practices for more information on operating safely and in compliance with current regulations.

The updated version includes a new section on patios and information about the recent regional orders for the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

Maintaining your COVID-19 safety plan in response to the new regional order

go2HR shared the following information on maintaining your COVID-19 safety plan in response to the new regional order:

On November 7, 2020, the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) issued a regional order to all employers in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health Authority regions.

Note: on November 19, 2020, the PHO expanded this regional order to the entire province.

This new order requires that all employers review their COVID-19 safety plan to ensure that appropriate protocols are in place to protect workers from the risk of transmission, including physical distancing, the use of barriers and the use of masks. A further requirement of this order is for employers to ensure that workers and others do not enter the workplace if they have symptoms of COVID-19 (worker health checks). 

Beginning November 9, 2020, WorkSafeBC is conducting enhanced COVID-19 safety plan inspections and consultations.

They will be prioritizing workplaces with the highest risk of transmission, including:

  • workplaces where it is difficult to maintain physical distance;

  • workplaces with enclosed work areas;

  • workplaces where workers interact with large numbers of people; and

  • workplaces where workers come into frequent contact with shared surfaces, tools, and equipment.

This enhanced COVID-19 inspectional focus is intended to ensure that workplace controls are effectively implemented and managed, that appropriate protocols are in place and that health screening is being conducted. The same focus will be included in every inspection conducted provincially.

Use go2HR’s compilation of key resources, housed on their new Maintaining your COVID-19 Safety Plan webpage to assist you in reviewing and updating your COVID-19 safety plan.

All businesses across the province are being urged to remain vigilant, follow their COVID-19 safety plans, and update those plans as needed. 

If you have any questions or need support with any aspect of your safety plan, please contact go2HR via phone: 604-633-9787 or email: safety@go2hr.ca. Their qualified health and safety staff are available to assist and look forward to supporting you and your team.

New Container Recycling Fee rate change effective January 31, 2021

LDB Wholesale shared the following notice on new Container Recycling Fee rate changes, effective January 31, 2021:

Please be advised that Encorp Pacific and the BC Brewers Recycled Container Collection Council (BRCCC) have notified the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) of changes to container recycling fee (CRF) rates effective Period 11 – January 31st, 2021. 

Container Recycling Fee changes are as follows: 

Aluminum (All)

  • Current CRF: $0.02

  • CRF Effective January 31, 2021: $0.01

Glass – No Refill <= 1 Litre (Wine & Spirits)

  • Current CRF: $0.14

  • CRF Effective January 31, 2021: $0.13

Plastic PET, Tetra Pak, Pouch <= 1 Litre

  • Current CRF: $0.03

  • CRF Effective January 31, 2021: $0.02

Plastic PET, Tetra Pak, Pouch > 1 Litre

  • Current CRF: $0.06

  • CRF Effective January 31, 2021: $0.05

Bag in Box

  • Current CRF: $0.07

  • CRF Effective January 31, 2021: $0.13

Download a PDF copy of the memo.

Province updates measures to enforce Lower Mainland COVID-19 public safety

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is aligning the Province’s ticketing measures with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) orders, giving police and other provincial enforcement officers the ability to issue violation tickets for additional contraventions in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.

On November 13, government announced new ticketing measures under the Emergency Program Act that apply to party buses and limousines.

The measures allow police and other enforcement officers to issue additional fines. People who operate or permit operation of perimeter-seating vehicles or perimeter-seating buses in contravention of the PHO’s orders will be subject to a $2,000 fine. People taking part in a social gathering on a bus or limousine in these regions could face individual fines of $200.

All ticketing measures previously announced in August and September 2020 to enforce COVID-19 public safety at gatherings and events will remain in effect throughout the province.

BDO Rethink Virtual Conference on November 24

Throughout COVID-19, many businesses realized they weren’t quite ready for a digital transformation. Now is the time to reassess business models to identify new revenue streams, decrease or manage costs effectively, consider current and potentially new technology, so that businesses can transform to build resilience and reach their growth potential.  

Register now for BDO’s Rethink Virtual Conference, a unique and exciting event for mid-market business owners and executives from the M&D, technology, retail, real estate, and private equity sectors. 

You will hear business leaders, data scientists, researchers, and industry experts discuss how to leverage opportunities during these challenging times. 

There will be individual sessions that focus on specific industries including manufacturing, technology & life sciences, retail & consumer business and real estate & construction. Learn more about the plenary and breakout sessions.

Register here.

Destination BC: Virtual Industry Forum for Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

Join Destination BC for this year’s Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Annual Industry Forum. It will be held virtually, via Zoom, on Wednesday, December 2 from 9:00 am to 12 noon.

They’ll be sharing the latest updates from Destination BC, including marketing and destination development work that is taking place in the region, and you’ll hear from some of DBC’s key industry partners: The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), and go2HR. 

The easiest way to register is through Eventbrite – feel free to share the link with colleagues in your organization who would benefit from attending.

Please register by Friday, November 27. Those who do not wish to register through Eventbrite can email: industryprograms@destinationbc.ca to sign up for the Forum. 

Speakers include:

  • Richard Porges – Interim President & CEO, Destination BC

  • Maya Lange – Vice President, Global Marketing, Destination BC

  • Maria Greene – Director, Market Development, Destination BC

  • Nancy Flello – Senior Researcher, Destination BC

  • Jenn MacIntyre – Manager, Industry Development, Destination BC

  • Tewanee Joseph – Chief Governance and Partnership Officer, ITBC

  • Walt Judas – President & CEO, TIABC

  • Krista Bax – President & CEO, go2HR

Learn more and register here.

BC COVID-19 Tourism Impact Survey

The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region is working in conjunction with the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), and the BC Destination Marketing Organization Association (BCDMOA) on a survey, to ensure they have up-to-date information on the impacts of COVID-19 on the visitor economy. 

By answering this confidential survey, you will help all businesses in the region make their situation known to both federal and provincial policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Recognizing the demands on your time, they have made the survey as short as possible and would really appreciate your feedback. Thank you again for your time. This information is critical.

Take the survey.

Tourism Digital Academy intakes now open

The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, 8-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses who are interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level. 

Designed for business owners or their marketing team members, this comprehensive program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance to complete your digital marketing plan. From setting your goals, to building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics and more – you’ll leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put that plan into action.

The application-based program is free for all participants. Learn more and apply here.

2021 Quarterly Pour and digital advertising media kit

The 2021 media kit for advertising in the Quarterly Pour, Annual Buyers’ Guide, on the ABLE BC website, and in our e-newsletter is now available.
Download the new media kit.

The Quarterly Pour (formerly called The Publican Magazine) is distributed quarterly to 670 private liquor stores, 220 rural liquor stores and 1860 pubs and bars across BC. This business publication is the official magazine of ABLE BC.

ABLE BC Associate Members receive a 10% discount on all advertising opportunities. Call Joyce Hayne at 1-800-667-0955 or email joyce@emcmarketing.com to discuss strategies to generate new business.

Ann Brydle