The province is establishing a task force focused on helping BC bounce back from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
The Economic Recovery Task Force will bring together leaders from both business and labour, not-for-profits, and First Nations to help ensure BC has an all-encompassing and effective economic response to the pandemic and subsequent province-wide state of emergency.
The role of the task force will be to advise all levels of government on a cross-government response to the COVID-19 crisis. This will take place in the form of a weekly conference call between Premier Horgan; Minister of Finance Carole James; Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, members of cabinet, and representatives from business such as the Business Council of BC, BC Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver Board of Trade, Surrey Board of Trade, and the BC Federation of Labour.
“COVID-19 is not only a public health challenge, but also an economic one,” said Premier John Horgan.
“We will be there to protect people’s health and give immediate relief during the crisis. This task force will help us keep in close contact with community leaders to ensure the steps we are taking now are working and to plan for a long-term economic recovery after the crisis has passed.”
The task force will also help to ensure that provincial program benefits will reach their intended recipients and complement federal programs. It will also look at the issues of determining essential and critical services, childcare and other supports for essential workers, as well as safe workplace operations for businesses now and those that will begin operations again following the crisis.
At the top of the list of priorities for the Economic Recovery Task Force is discussing plans for the long-term economic recovery following the coronavirus outbreak.
“COVID-19 is a huge challenge, but British Columbians can be assured their government has their back, and together we will get through this,” Premier Horgan said.
