
Supports for people, businesses in 2020 helping build recovery for everyone
By taking action to support people and businesses impacted by the global pandemic, Premier John Horgan and the B.C. government have begun building a strong economic recovery that includes everyone in British Columbia.
“British Columbians came together to face the challenge of COVID-19 with resilience and strength, and while there’s light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines arriving daily, the road to recovery is still ahead of us,” said Premier John Horgan. “The actions we’ve taken to invest in people and support small businesses in our communities are helping us ensure recovery includes everyone – not just those at the top. We’ve come a long way together, but there’s more to do.”
Focused on the millions of British Columbians who had a difficult year, Premier Horgan and the government delivered the tax-free BC Recovery Benefit, available to 90% of adults in B.C., providing up to $1,000 for families or $500 for individuals.
The BC Recovery Benefit builds on actions taken after COVID-19 first hit British Columbia, providing immediate relief for people who needed it most, including:
- helping more than 600,000 workers with a $1,000 emergency benefit to help cover lost wages; and
- providing peace of mind to over 86,000 renters with a relief supplement and protection from the threat of eviction.
The Province provided important relief for businesses, establishing a $300-million grant program for small- and medium-sized businesses that were hit hard during the pandemic, providing tax breaks for businesses purchasing equipment and offering a rebate for companies hiring back workers or creating new jobs.
These measures build on work done in the early days of the pandemic, including:
- helping thousands of small businesses with their BC Hydro bills;
- allowing deferred payments on several business taxes such as the provincial sales tax (PST), employer health tax and carbon tax; and
- working with businesses to help them operate while keeping workers and customers safe.
Premier Horgan and the government consulted widely with people and businesses, hearing from more than 50,000 British Columbians before delivering the StrongerBC recovery plan, focused on:
Creating jobs and opportunities:
- providing targeted and short-term training in high-demand fields, such as front-line health, child care and human service positions;
- building on the fastest creation of affordable child care spaces in B.C.’s history; and
- supporting tourism businesses and communities by investing over $100 million and creating a task force to identify short- and long-term solutions.
Helping businesses grow and hire:
- encouraging businesses to hire low- to-middle-income workers in B.C. with a 15% hiring tax credit;
- protecting an estimated 200,000 jobs through grants to approximately 15,000 hard-hit small- and medium-sized businesses; and
- making it easier for businesses to invest in new equipment with a PST rebate.
Supporting strong communities:
- investing over $400 million to revitalize community infrastructure and support local governments, including grants for shovel-ready projects; and
- keeping people moving by transit and ferry with over $1 billion in provincial and federal investments to support and expand BC Transit, TransLink and BC Ferries.
Activity Stream
Tue, Jan 19, 2021 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Exploring Sugarloaf Hill – Kamloops Trails
Sat, Jan 16, 2021 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: The Marsh and Giant Firs on Snowshoes
Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 11:09 am - Darryl Schmidt posted a comment on Grand Finale of the Kamloops Symphony’s “Running The Symphony” Initiative
Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 5:25 pm - Ryan Noakes created a new Profile
Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 9:05 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Bush Lake Loop – Kamloops Trails
Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 12:25 pm - David Suzuki posted on their blog: U.S. crisis shows need to speak truth to power
Mon, Jan 11, 2021 at 3:47 pm - Kamloops Film Society created a new Profile
Sun, Jan 10, 2021 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Hidden Homesteads, Lone Trees, and Old Snags
Thu, Jan 7, 2021 at 4:42 pm - Arjun Singh posted on their blog: Advancing active transportation path construction in Kamloops….
Upcoming Events
Wed Jan 20 Colombo Cares – Take Home Dinner
Thu Jan 21 Never Without Love, a Journey to Persia
Mon Jan 25 Chefs in the City Reimagined
Tue Jan 26 to Sun Jan 31 2021 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship
Fri Jan 29 Business – Student Mentorship Award Gala – AIMCanada TNC
Thu Feb 11 Industry Roundtable – Hospitality
Fri Feb 12 Dinner & Comedy Show with Sophie Buddle
Sat Feb 13 Dinner & Comedy Show with Sophie Buddle
Sat Feb 20 Chamber Musicians of Kamloops Presents A Concert Full Of Passion
Sat Feb 20 Passions
Mon Feb 22 Chefs in the City Reimagined
Fri Feb 26 Speakers Jeremy Heighton, Jo Berry
Sat Mar 6 Kamloops Ambassador Society Father Daughter Ball
Fri Mar 12 Dinner & Comedy Show with Patrick Maliha