COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Resources for Pemberton & District
COVID-19 Guidance & Resources for Pemberton Businesses
The Pemberton + District Chamber is here to support you during this challenging time. Find quick links to resources to monitor, business and financial supports plus precautions for employers.
Check back regularly for COVID-19 Resources and Updates with a focus on Pemberton + District, BC Canada.
- Last Update
- December 9, 2020
- 6:20 PM
Getting started with a covid response
Province of BC’s Restart Plan
The Province of BC has announced its 4 Phase 4 phase restart plan to get the province back up and running safely. The Province of BC, as of November 7, has announced the move to Phase 3 of this plan.




WorkSafe BC Operation for Employers
Employers are required to develop a six step COVID-19 Safety Plan that outlines the policies, guidelines, and procedures they have put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. You do not need a formal plan in place to begin operation, but are expected to develop it while protecting the safety of your workers. Visit the WorkSafe BC for details.
COVID-19 Health Resources & Tools
- WorkSafe BC
- BC Center for Disease Control
- Poster for businesses to place outside the entry door
- What to do if you have symptoms?
- World Health Organization
- Government of Canada
Local Contact Information for Vancouver Coastal Health
James Whalen
Environmental Health Officer,
Vancouver Coastal Health
Whistler and Pemberton, BC
604-932-3202
James.Whalen@vch.ca
Business & Financial Supports
Local Support
Work BC
For local assistance with Work BC, contact their Sea to Sky location: call 604-639-1743, or email centre-squamish@workbc.ca.
Village of Pemberton
The Village of Pemberton is also available for local support:
call 604-894-6135, or email admin@pemberton.ca.
Tourism Pemberton
The Pemberton App Now Includes Currently Open Listings! The currently open listing includes new hours of operation and service options. Download the FREE Pemberton app Google play download or App store download. Contact info@tourismpembertonbc.com to update your information.
Small Business BC (SBBC) Support Service
The BC and the Canadian government have partnered with Small Business BC (SBBC) to launch a new B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service.
Advisors can be reached by phone toll-free at 1-833-254-4357 by email covid@smallbusinessbc.ca and live chat. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 6 PM | Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM
As part of the support service, a dedicated website: B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service. This website feature announcements from industry and community partners, as well as a variety of essential resources, including webinars and practical tools.
Government COVID-19 Response Information
Government of Canada
Government of BC
Wage & Income Support
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
CEWS covers 75% of an employee’s wages – up to $847 per week – for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March and 30% in April and May.
Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy
The 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the number of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Credit & Financing Programs
Speak to your lender for more information. Canada’s largest financial institutions, as well as some credit unions, like are working with small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible financing solutions such as:
Lender Adjustments to Your Account
Payment deferrals, reduced interest rates on credit cards and temporary limit increases.
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
Interest-free loans of up to $40,000 through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). The CEBA includes a loan forgiveness amount of 25%, up to $10,000, if repaid on or before December 31, 2022.
Canadian Emergency Commercial Renta Assistance (CERCA)
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) to help lower rents by 75% for small businesses affected by COVID-19. Announced on April 24, 2020
- The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.
- The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.
- Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.
Business Credit Availability Programs
Term loans of up to $6.25 million through the Business Credit Availability Program’s co-lending and guaranteed loan option.
Farm Credit Canada
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is offering loan payment deferrals and other financing products to the agriculture and food industry.
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada can help businesses access federal funding and provide advice on other federal programs and services. Tourism operators or small- or medium-sized organizations that are impacted by COVID-19 and have received RDA funding may be eligible to receive additional funding or flexible arrangements.
Tax Flexibility from Government
Tax flexibility: Businesses can defer paying income tax until September 1, 2020. GST payments, duties, and other remittances can be deferred until June.
Support for Indigenous Businesses
On April 18, the federal government announced funding to support Indigenous-owned businesses in Canada through the COVID-19 crisis. The $306.8 million fund will be administered via 59 Aboriginal Financial Institutions, providing short-term, interest-free loans, and non-repayable contributions to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses.
Other Supports & Resources Available to Businesses
ICBC
ICBC is offering payment plan deferrals for up to 90 days with no penalties.
BC Hydro
BC Hydro: The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program allows customers to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Call 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376)
FortisBC
FortisBC is waiving late payment fees and ensuring no customer is disconnected and will discuss flexible payment options.
WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC will be allowing employers to defer payment of their Q1 2020 payments by three months.
Whistler Chamber of Commerce
Recordings of COVID-19 Webinars hosted by the Whistler Chamber of Commerce.
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains (VCM)
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Resiliency Program: Destination BC has launched the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains (VCM) Tourism Resiliency Program to provide tourism businesses in the region with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate government resources which will help our industry work towards eventual recovery. Included is a digital resource hub – Featuring webinars, information bulletins, and additional resources specific to the needs of BC’s tourism businesses. For more information on Destination BC’s COVID-19 overall response, please visit Destinationbc.ca/covid-19.
HR & Employment Standards
go2HR
Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace offers HR advice from go2HR.
Health & Wellness Support
Virtual Mental Health Supports
To help British Columbians stay well in uncertain times, the Province is bolstering existing mental health programs and launching new services. The virtual supports will help people of all ages.
Mental Wellness & Substance Use
The federal government is also expanding supports dedicated to mental wellness and substance use through a new online portal: Wellness Together Canada.
Support for Workers, Individuals & Families
Government of Canada
Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Federal government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19.
Employment Insurance
The Federal government has waived the one-week waiting period for individuals in imposed quarantine that claim EI sickness benefits.
For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the EI work-sharing program provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hour as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Federal government has enhanced the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) with a maximum annual payment amount increased by up to $300 per child as part of their May payment.
Government of BC
Emergency Benefit for Workers
Provincial financial supports include the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, enhanced climate action tax credit, temporary rent supplement, bill deferral and freezing student loan payments.
The B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will provide a one-time $1,000 payment to people whose ability to work has been affected due to COVID-19. B.C. residents who receive federal Employment Insurance, or the new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit are eligible.
Renter & Landlord Support
Support for renters and landlords include a new temporary rental supplement, halting evictions and freezing rents.
BC Housing
Rental supplements are also available through BC Housing.
Monitoring Resources
We encourage our members to stay up to date on the latest health information.
- Office of the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer – for provincial statements & resources
- Vancouver Coastal Health Updates
- BC Center for Disease Control
- Public Health Canada
PEMBERTON + DISTRICT CHAMBER COVID-19 RELATED EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
- 12/09/2020 - BC's Business Voice During COVID-19
- 11/26/2020 - Member Update: Shop Local, Recovery Grand & Training, and more
- 06/09/2020 - Event Alert: WorkSafe BC and Jordan Sturdy
- 05/07/2020 - COVID-19 Updates & New Resources
- 04/24/2020 - COVID-19 Update: New and Expanded Government Programs
- 04/16/2020 - COVID-19 Update: New and Expanded Government Programs
- 04/06/2020 - COVID-19 Webinar & Key Resources
- 03/26/2020 - Online Event: COVID-19 Precautions - Info + Q&A w/ Vancouver Coastal Health
- 03/24/2020 - Covid-19 Update: Petition for Small Businesses & Updates
- 03/18/2020 - COVID-19: Update On Government Support for Business
- 03/14/2020 - Covid-19 Update and Resources for Pemberton Businesses
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