Weekly Liquor Industry Update: January 27, 2022
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here's what you'll find inside today's update:
BC vaccine card extended to June 30
TESA’s expiring soon, apply for a permanent patio NOW!
Paid sick leave policy causing significant challenges
Pandemic Recovery Survey from BC Chamber of Commerce
Reminder: Northern Health members no longer required to stop liquor service at 10:00 pm
Alana Dickson appointed Executive Director of the BC Hospitality Foundation
Dine around and stay in town Victoria lottery
Exciting news for ABLE BC
Find all past updates here.
Vaccine Card Extended to June 30
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced an extension to the BC Vaccine Card program to June 30, 2022.
The program requires proof of vaccination to access non-essential spaces, including pubs, bars, and restaurants. It was initially set to expire at the end of January.
As a reminder, you are required to scan a patron’s vaccine card using the BC Vaccine Card Verifier App and confirm identification.
For more information, click here.
Paid Sick Leave: Ongoing Challenges
Since government mandated five days of paid sick leave on Jan. 1, 2022, we have heard from members all over B.C. about the serious negative impact this policy is having on your businesses. Many of you have expressed frustration and disbelief that the policy was introduced amid both a serious labour shortage, and the peak of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant.
While government has been clear they are not changing this policy, we know as well as you do that this was not the right time to add new costs to BC's businesses--particularly our hardest-hit hospitality industry. There also remains too much confusion around the definition of "employment year" and how to calculate leave for part-time and short-term employees.
This week, we joined a broad coalition of industry associations in writing to the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Harry Bains, to request logical and necessary amendments to this policy. We have also previously requested that government reintroduce the now-expired Employer Reimbursement Program, which reimbursed businesses for up to three days of COVID-19-related paid sick leave wages.
To support our efforts, please write directly to the Minister of Labour at LBR.Minister@gov.bc.ca (and copy jeff@ablebc.ca) to tell him how paid sick leave is impacting your business.
We will continue to provide updates as they are available. In the meantime, for a summary of frequently asked questions please see this FAQ from DLA Piper or this FAQ from go2HR.
Are You Planning to Install a Patio this Summer?
If you are planning to install a patio this summer, you need to take urgent action now. TESA applications from last year are expiring soon and do not provide approval for patios this coming summer.
On June 15, 2021, the LCRB extended the deadline for currently approved Temporary Expanded Service Areas (TESAs) to expire on June 1, 2022.
This means that if you have not made the service area under your TESA permanent by applying for a permanent structural change (e.g., applying for a patio), your TESA will expire on June 1, 2022 and you will not be able to sell or serve liquor in the expanded space.
It’s very important to note that it can take up to 10 months to get your application approved. Licensees who have not yet applied are now at risk of their TESA expiring before they can get approval for a new outdoor patio or structural change.
You can find more information on how to apply via the LCRB’s website.
Please note, not all TESA authorizations will be viable permanent patios. Before you apply and pay the fee, it is your responsibility to work with your local government and authorities to make sure the TESA you want to make permanent complies with all local permits, guidelines, bylaws and requirements.
To apply you will need:
An updated floor plan that clearly shows the structural change
These plans generally require an occupancy load
If you are a Liquor Primary or Manufacturer licensee, your structural change application will be sent to your local government for their comments.
To apply as a Liquor Primary or Food Primary licensee:
Log in to the liquor and cannabis licensing portal with a BCeID
Go to the "Licences and Authorizations" dashboard and find the licence you want to change.
Select:
"New Outdoor Patio" for an outdoor TESA or
"Structural Change Application" for an indoor TESA
Complete the application.
You can find more information here.
Pandemic Recovery Survey from BC Chamber of Commerce
The BC Chamber of Commerce has launched a Pandemic Recovery Survey to understand the impact of the Omicron variant, "functional closures," and additional costs associated with the BC paid sick leave program.
The survey will close January 31, 2022 at 4:00 pm.
Over the past few months, many members have reported escalating costs, significant supply disruptions, chronic labour shortages, and increased absenteeism. Your participation in this survey will help us clarify and quantify for government officials the full burden of how these costs are hurting your businesses.
Click here to take the survey.
Northern Health Update: Regional Public Health Orders Lifted; Provincial COVID-19 Restrictions Apply
Earlier this week, we shared the good news that Northern Health Licensees are no longer required to stop serving liquor at 10:00 pm.
This is excellent news for our Northern BC members and a direct result of advocacy efforts from ABLE BC and our industry association partners.
Click here to read more about this update.
Alana Dickson Appointed Executive Director of the BC Hospitality Foundation
Alana Dickson has been appointed the new Executive Director of the BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), taking over from Dana Harris as of January 31, 2022.
Click here to read a message from Jeff Guignard, Board Chair of the BCHF.
Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria Lottery
Destination Greater Victoria, the BC Hospitality Foundation, and BC Restaurant and Food Services Association (Victoria Chapter) are launching a lottery as part of Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria 2022.
Prize draws will take place at 12 p.m. on February 7, 2022.
Details on prizing can be found here.
In Case you Missed It: Exciting News for the ABLE BC Team
On Monday this week, ABLE BC's Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, was named on Vancouver Magazine's 2022 Power 50 List. Read the full announcement here.
We are also excited to announce Ann Brydle has joined ABLE BC as our new Manager of Membership and Communication. Read more about Ann here.