British Columbia has become the first province in Canada to tie its minimum wage to the rate of inflation. B.C. is pushing its minimum wage, already the highest among Canada’s 10 provinces, up from $15.20 to $15.65 an hour starting June 1. The increase is the first to be tied to B.C.’s annual inflation rate, […]
British Columbia has removed the order requiring masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces as of March 11, and the province says that the proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement is likely to be lifted on April 8. However, individual businesses will still be allowed to require masks if the owner decides they would like to, and the […]
The Canadian government introduced a new pandemic aid bill on November 24 that would maintain some financial supports for businesses and workers until at least the spring of 2022. Bill C-2, if passed, would include providing wage and rent subsidies through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program. The Tourism and Hospitality […]
British Columbia announced on August 23 that it is following Quebec by becoming the second province to require proof of vaccination for entry to establishments including restaurants. The B.C. vaccine passport will come into effect on September 13, two weeks after Quebec’s goes live. Unlike Quebec’s, the B.C. vaccine passport will only mandate that patrons […]
B.C. liquor stores are getting more flexibility in their operations on a permanent basis. Liquor retailers in the province had been authorized to open earlier for the safety and convenience of their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic back in April 2020. In April 2020, the government temporarily authorized retailers including wine stores and private liquor […]
Effective Tuesday, June 15, British Columbia moved into Step 2 of its reopening process, meaning that B.C. restaurants can now serve liquor until midnight. Indoor dining in B.C. restaurants reopened on May 25 after two months closed as Step 1 of the targeted relaunch plan began. Under those terms, restaurants could serve liquor until 10 […]
Workers in British Columbia will soon have access to a paid sick leave program that will support them to stay home when they are sick during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation introduced on May 11 will also include permanent paid illness leave. Amendments to the Employment Standards Act will bring in three days […]
British Columbia is now accepting applications for the B.C. circuit-breaker relief grant for foodservice and hospitality businesses hurt by the recent COVID-19 restrictions. Eligible businesses include restaurants, pubs, bars, coffee shops, cafes, cafeterias, lounges, nightclubs, breweries, wineries, and tasting rooms. The grant is repurposing $50 million from the province’s $345 million Business Recovery Grant to […]
British Columbia has announced that B.C. wholesale alcohol pricing will become a permanent measure, allowing restaurants, bars, and tourism operators to buy liquor at lower prices. A temporary change to allow for B.C. wholesale alcohol pricing was enacted in June 2020 in a bid to help revive a struggling industry that has been hit devastatingly […]
Delivery platform SkipTheDishes has courted controversy in British Columbia by introducing a new B.C. surcharge on orders in response to the province’s temporary cap on third-party delivery services’ fees. The temporary 15-per-cent cap on the fees that delivery services can charge restaurants went into effect on December 22 in what the provincial government described as […]
