‘It's outrageous that it took John Horgan and the NDP this long to acknowledge the severity of the situation and do something’ -- Chilliwack MLA and BC Liberal Labour Critic John Martin

VICTORIA (June 25, 2020) - After a week of sustained pressure by the BC Liberals and businesses throughout the province, John Horgan has finally reversed his position and will act to extend temporary layoffs time limits to prevent mass layoffs and small business bankruptcies.

Chilliwack MLA, and BC Liberal
Labour Critic, John Martin

"For weeks, small businesses and non-profits in every corner of our province have pleaded with John Horgan to extend temporary layoff time limits that, if not addressed, would have triggered thousands of permanent job losses and business bankruptcies," said MLA John Martin, BC Liberal Labour Critic.

"It's outrageous that it took John Horgan and the NDP this long to acknowledge the severity of the situation and do something. Their inaction created needless uncertainty for thousands of already-struggling businesses and workers."

Earlier this week, the BC Liberals supported small business groups and employers throughout B.C. who sent a letter to the NDP government requesting they amend the Employment Standards Act to extend the temporary layoff time limits.

Such an extension would bring B.C. in line with governments throughout the country who have extended the temporary layoff time limits to help businesses accommodate the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're glad that we were able to amplify the voices of these small businesses and workers who were begging the government to act to save jobs and livelihoods," added Jas Johal, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough.

"It shouldn't have taken this long, but the BC Liberal Caucus is glad that the small business representatives got what they wanted out of this meeting with a Premier who spent the first half of the week being dismissive of their concerns and claiming their letter for help was 'salacious'."

In the end, all that was required after the foot-dragging and procrastination from John Horgan and the NDP was a simple alteration of two numbers in legislation.

Just the stroke of a pen.


PLEASE NOTE ... click here to read today's BC government media release regarding temporary lay-off notices