For those who want to stay right up to date with what’s happening in the City on COVID-19, please join me daily on the City of Victoria’s Facebook page at 2:30pm. And please share this link and information with your friends and neighbours. We’re getting lots of emails with lots of questions and we’ll do our best to answer them and keep you and the media up to date with these live daily updates. I’ll also post the videos here from now on. This video is my address from Tuesday. We’ll be back Wednesday at 3:30pm. Note the later time than usual.
News from the federal government
Today there were two more important announcements from the federal government. This morning the Prime Minister announced the Emergency Community Support Fund. $350 million will be allocated to community non-profits working with vulnerable populations, to be disbursed through large organizations like the United Way, Community Foundations of Canada and the Red Cross. These organizations fund established programs in communities across the country, including in Victoria, and can get money quickly into the hands of those who need it.
Today the Prime Minister and Minster Duclos shared more details on the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy. Businesses will be able to apply next Monday, April 27th. In the meantime, business owners can open a business profile on the CRA website so they’ll be ready to go when the application opens. There is also a calculator to help employers determine if they are eligible for the CEWS, who their eligible employees are, and what their overall payroll subsidy will be. This will help businesses plan for the coming weeks and months until the federal payroll subsidy arrives in bank accounts.
News from the City
On Saturday Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that there would be no large gatherings this summer. This means that the City’s usual Canada Day celebrations will not be held. Yet we know that this year is an important year for all Canadians as we struggle through these challenging times together. It’s more important now than ever to come together in new and creative ways.
We’re looking at what we might be able to do in Victoria. The federal government said that they are going to hold national virtual Canada Day celebrations. We partnered with the federal government and the Minister of Canadian Heritage in a national celebration called First Night when Canada turned 150. I’ve written to Minister Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage to see what Ottawa might be planing and how Victoria as a capital city can participate and support this effort.
News from the community
We know that our businesses are facing so many challenges right now due to the impacts of COVID-19. There is also a lot of information out there on programs and benefits from the federal and provincial governments. There is a lot to navigate, and tough decisions to make.
That’s why next week, Community Micro Lending, with the support of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, is holding two free online COVID-19 “Ask an Expert Sessions” with lawyers, accountants, and human resource professionals. The sessions will be held on Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon of next week. All the information, times, dates and an invite is here. Please share widely with all small business owners you know who might benefit from this great, free service.
I also want to share another exciting and creative way that community members are coming together to mark important events. Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Earth Day. Creatively United for the Planet has organized a free online community webinar series EarthFest – Creative Solutions for a New World, from 11am to 12:30 pm daily, all week. Visit Creatively United for the Planet for a full lineup of amazing speakers. Check it out and you can also access any past webinars you may have missed.
