Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Update #29
By Contributor
Submitted by City of Nelson Emergency Operations Centre
Council Adopts 25 Point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan
At a special Council meeting held Thursday, April 23, Mayor and Council adopted a 25 point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan.
The plan is in response to a revenue shortfall of up to $1,600,000 for 2020. In developing the plan, Council worked with the Chief Financial Officer and City departments to identify areas where expenditures could be reduced without compromising essential services.
The key highlights of the financial stability plan include:
- Zero percent property tax increase for 2020.
- Zero percent fee increase for Nelson Hydro for 2020.
- Zero percent increase in Nelson Hydro dividend to the City.
- Zero percent wage increase for 2020.
- General hiring freeze.
- The flexibility for the replacement of critical positions and hiring if there are grant-funded positions.
- Minimizing travel, training, legal fees and other discretionary costs.
- The City has negotiated with its benefits carrier to reduce dental and extended health premiums by $40,000 per month.
- An allowance of $100,000 for recovery and/or wildfire response activities.
- A request to the Provincial Government to fund the operating shortfall for transit.
The City will be releasing further information on the Economic Stimulus Program and Community Support measures this week.
Read the full story on The Nelson Daily.
Dr. Bonnie Henry: We will have a made-in-B.C. plan for re-opening the province.
At today’s Provincial daily update, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that plans to begin re-opening the province would be coming soon. “We are getting close to that time where we can start to open up,” she announced.
She cautioned that that we must proceed carefully: “We cannot allow hot spots to flare up and to affect our communities.”
Applications Open Today for $73-billion Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program
Last week the Government of Canada announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) to help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This important economic measure provides a 75% wage subsidy of up to $847 per employee per week, to eligible employers, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15. Businesses of all sizes, along with charities and non-profits, are eligible if they have experienced a drop in revenue of at least 30 per cent. Canadians can receive the wage subsidy or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) — but not both. The CEWS is retroactive to March 15.
Payments should begin to arrive on May 7.
Are you eligible? https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-how-apply.html
CEWS Calculator Tool: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-calculate-subsidy-amount.html
To read the full media release: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2020/04/government-of-canada-launches-applications-for-the-canada-emergency-wage-subsidy.html
BC’s Seniors Advocate Announces Additional Funds to Help Seniors and Caregivers.
Isobel Mackenzie, British Columbia’s senior’s advocate, has announced that $500,000 in funding will go to the Family Caregivers of British Columbia, a non-profit that provides support to seniors and caregivers.
This funding will allow Family Caregivers of BC to enhance services during the COVID-19 pandemic so that caregivers get the increased support they need to help seniors remain at home, such as expanded toll-free support line hours, emotional supports and health-care navigation.
Tead the full media release.
The BC Government has provided the following information today:
COVID-19 Case Statistics: (Regional case numbers not provided today)
- Total cases in BC to date: 1998 — Total recovered cases in BC: 1190
- Total new cases in BC: 50 — over two day period
- Total fatalities in BC to date: 103 (Increase of 3 in 48 hrs)
- Total cases in Canada: 48,242
- Total fatalities in Canada: 2705
