Corona Virus – Support Resources

As we are in an unprecedented time for Boundary Country and the world, we will communicate with the tourism industry as often as information becomes available.  Safety of everyone is the main priority.

The Action Plan, announced on March 23, focuses on services to protect the health and safety of British Columbians, provide immediate relief to individuals and businesses, and position our province for economic recovery over the long term. The $5 billion plan explains the financial supports available in response to COVID-19  including several actions that individual businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors will be able to benefit from, such as

• delayed/deferred tax filing and payment deadlines, plus reduced School Tax Rates, through provincial tax changes.
• A tax-free one-time payment of $1,000 for those who are income-affected by the pandemic, via the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers.
• $1.5 billion for economic stimulus and recovery, which will come into play in the longer-term for particularly hard hit parts of the economy, like tourism.

The Province, in partnership with Small Business BC, has created an excellent financial resource: COVID-19 Supports for Small Businesses in BC. This handy PDF includes a wide range of government and private sector supports for small businesses in British Columbia affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR YOU

Please follow these important links for official information and subscribe to the newsletters to help keep you most up to date as information is released.

• Destination British Columbia – COVID-19 Updates and Action Plan
  Subscribe to the Destination BC Newsletter here.
• TOTA Official Website  and  News Centre
  Subscribe to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Newsletters for regional industry updates here 
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada COVID-19 Updates
  Subscribe to their mailing list here or Email communications@tiac-aitc.ca to provide the Tourism Industry Association of Canada information on how COVID-19 is impacting you.
• Indigenous Tourism BC
  Subscribe to Indigenous Tourism BC Newsletters here
• Destination Canada – COVID-19 Updates
  Subscribe to the Destination Canada Newsletter here
• Government of Canada and Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Government of BC
  Subscribe to the Government of BC Newsletter here
• BC Economic Development Association COVID-19 Resources for BC Businesses Guide 
  Subscribe to their newsletter from their website here
• BC Ministry of Health & HealthLink
  Download the new BC Ministry of Health COVID-19 BC Support App and Self Assessment Tool here
• BC Centre for Disease Control
• Canada Public Health – COVID-19 Information
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Tourism HR Canada – Coronavirus Resource Hub
  Subscribe to Tourism HR Canada Newsletter here
• go2HR – BC’s Tourism Industry HR Resource
  To subscribe to Go2hr here  or VISIT THE GO2HR JOB BOARD
• Boundary Country Newsletters will be issued as necessary.
  If you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter, they can sign up for updates.

COMMUNICATIONS

TOTA Recovery Taskforce
TOTA has launched a COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce.  The Recovery Taskforce will share information between tourism stakeholders and the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture with daily discussions with TOTA’s CEO Glenn Mandzuik.

The Recovery Taskforce will be contacting various stakeholders to gain an understanding of the current and potential future impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on businesses throughout the Thompson Okanagan Region. These phone calls will take a few minutes to ask you a number questions about current conditions and suggestions for recovery. We will use this information to update your business listing on boundarybc.com.

Your response will better enable TOTA to support businesses during this time and to communicate impacts with government. This information is being rolled up in a document going directly to Minister Lisa Beare, which she will review with our region weekly and daily. All responses will be private and confidential.
*If you wish to share information or suggestions earlier, please reach out at your convenience:*

Chelsea McGonigal
Stakeholder Liaison
e: marketingsupport@totabc.com
t: 778-721-5806

CONTACTS:

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

Simone Carlysle-Smith 778-721-5448 sts@totabc.com

Cindy Alblas, Boundary Country Tourism Stakeholder Liaison 250-447-9771 boundarybc@gmail.com