Businesses that have remained open during the pandemic, so far, have done so safely with the support of WorkSafeBC.
The WorkSafeBC's website has many resources available to help workplaces take appropriate preventative measures.
Resources for businesses
- B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service: 1 833-254-4357 or visit http://covid.smallbusinessbc.ca to find out more about the supports in place to help you.
- Government of Canada Economic Response Plan
- BC Chamber of Commerce
- South Island Prosperity Project - COVID Resources
- Small Business BC: Resources for Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19
- British Columbia Economic Development Association
- Mapped list of open businesses on the Peninsula
- Support Local YYJ Gift Card Directory
- YYJ Locals for Locals - A team of volunteers to support local businesses during the COVID-19 crisis made up of tech and marketing professionals. Some of their pro-bono services:
- Things that are open in Victoria - An online listing of business still open, with options for levels of service.
VIATEC has created a handbook to help determine what is required by authorities and made a checklist complete with examples of how to help reopen offices, including:
- A guide for creating your own “COVID-19 Safety Plan” (required)
- A master re-entry plan checklist
- A deep clean checklist & more!
- Click to download the VIATEC Back to the Office Handbook
Wage subsidy
- Wage of up to 75% for qualifying businesses: Up to 75% on first $58,700 of income (or up to $847/week), back dated to March 15.
- Learn more.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses.
Thousands of small businesses in British Columbia will see their monthly rent reduced by at least 75%.
Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
- Financing support for small and medium-sized businesses. Available mid-April.
- Speak with your financial institution.
- Learn more.
Canada Emergency Business Account
- Loans of up to $40,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits, interest-free for one year. A portion may be forgivable. Available mid-April.
- Speak with your financial institution.
- Learn more.
Loan Guarantee
- Operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs. Available mid-April.
- Speak with your financial institution.
- Learn more.
Co-Lending Program
- Co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts of up to $6.25 million through the program. Available mid-April.
- Speak with your financial institution.
- Learn more.
Federal income tax
- Payments owed are deferred until after August 31, 2020 to help businesses with cash flow.
- Learn more.
BC business taxes
- Payments for Employer health tax (EHT), provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax, and carbon tax are deferred until after Sept 30. Scheduled April 1 increases to provincial carbon tax and PST are deferred.
- Learn more.
School tax
- Cut of 50% for business and industry property classes, to be passed onto tenants.
- Learn more.
GST/HST
- Payments owed deferred to June 30.
- Learn more.
Customs duties & taxes
- Payments owed deferred to June 30.
- Learn more.
WorkSafeBC
- Payment deadlines are postponed without penalty until June 30, except for employers that report on an annual basis (which do not need to report their 2020 payroll or pay their 2020 premiums until March 2021).
- Learn more.
BC Hydro
- Bill deferral and payment plans.
- COVID-19 Relief Fund for small businesses. Potential to have your business energy charges waived for up to three months. Applications available week of April 13.
- Call 1-800-BC-HYDRO
FortisBC
- COVID-19 Customer Recovery Fund provides immediate relief to residential and small business customers facing hardship and a flexible framework for recovery.
- Learn more.
Business by sector
Child care
- Emergency funding is available for child care providers that stay open or maintain their business while closed.
- Learn more.
Arts & Culture
- $3-million Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement to give operating and eligible project clients a supplement of up to $15,000. Clients will receive a 50% advance on 2020-21 funding.
- Learn more.
Publishing and news
- New Independent Advisory Board on Eligibility for Journalism Tax Measures is now in place.
- Learn more.
Tourism businesses in national parks and historic sites
- Tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas will have payments on commercial leases and licences of occupation deferred without interest until September 1.
- Wait to be contacted by Parks Canada.
Seafood sector
- Seafood growers, shellfish farmers, and processors, will have access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program.
- Learn more.
Farmers and Agri-Food sector
- Access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program.
- Learn more.
For the most up to date information on WorkSafeBC guidance please visit https://www.worksafebc.com/en.
For the most up to date information on Provincial Health Officer Orders visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.
Information from the Province of BC
