The B.C. government announces measures to support individuals, families, communities and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2020
- B.C. declares state of emergency. Read more
- Support for child care providers. Read more
- $5 billion in income supports, tax relief and direct funding for people, businesses and services. Read more
- Changes to the Employment Standards Act to protect jobs amid leave. Read more
- New temporary rental supplement, evictions halt and rent freezes. Read more
- $50 million to bolster seniors’ supports at community service agencies. Read more
- $3 million emergency grant to Food Banks British Columbia. Read more
April 2020
- State of emergency extended to continue B.C.’s COVID-19 response. Read more
- New emergency supports for the province’s most vulnerable, including people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors. Read more
- Additional $1.5 million to supplement supports for Indigenous students. Read more
- New spaces secured for vulnerable people to self-isolate. Read more
- Emergency Relief Support Fund adds service flexibility for parents of children with special needs. Read more
- $5 million to expand existing mental health programs and services and launch new services. Read more
- Applications open for temporary rental supplement. Read more
- Support service launched for B.C. businesses. Read more
- New supports for businesses, local governments. Read more
- Launch of free, virtual educational programs to support well-being of students, parents and educators. Read more
- Support for rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Read more
- Emergency supports for home share, support service providers. Read more
- B.C.’s essential service workers matched with child care. Read more
- Applications for B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers to open May 1. Read more
- Funding for Family Caregivers of British Columbia is doubled to $1 million, helping support both caregivers and seniors. Read more
- Virtual opportunities for LGBTQ2S+ students to connect. Read more
- Monthly rent reduced by at least 75% for B.C. small businesses. Read more
May 2020
- Online applications open for B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers. Read more
- Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) selected to serve as a provincial hub for anti-racism program. Read more
- 3,500 smartphones to be distributed by community organizations that provide services and support for vulnerable people. Read more
- Premier outlines plan to restart B.C. safely. Read more
- State of emergency extended. Read more
- Pandemic pay supports front-line health, social service workers. Read more
- K-12 students to have optional in-class instruction on June 1. Read more
June 2020
- Temporary emergency funding program for licensed child care centres extended until Aug. 31, 2020. Read more
- Extension of the temporary rental supplement (TRS) until the end of August 2020 to continue to support renters and landlords. Read more
- Extension of the temporary layoffs provisions to a maximum of 24 weeks expiring on August 30, 2020. Read more
- New $5 million Youth Community Partnership program to “build back better” from the impacts of COVID-19. Read more
- Investments in initiatives to protect long-term care and seniors’ assisted-living facilities. Read more
July 2020
- Emergency supports extended for people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors. Read more
- Release of an economic and fiscal update for 2020–2021 provides a summary of COVID-19 investments to date. Read more
- Province outlines repayment framework to support tenants, landlords. Read more
August 2020
- Extension of temporary crisis supplement for people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors. Read more
September 2020
- 62 Indigenous organizations receive $6.4 million in federal funding. Read more
No updates for October 2020.
November 2020
- Rent freeze extended, pending increases cancelled. Read more
December 2020
- Online applications open for BC Recovery Benefit. Read more
- Relief funding of $7.8 million for friendship centres to benefit urban Indigenous peoples during pandemic. Read more
Up to date resources and announcements can be found here.
Click on SDG icons to see related Vanier Institute resources
