Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

TODD STONE -- Catchphrases don't cut it anymore — people are losing their jobs and need actual assistance

 After abandoning the restaurant and hospitality industry for a week and a half following the announcement of stricter public health measures, the NDP
government has offered no new money to help businesses other than repurposing its already botched Small to Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program.

“After John Horgan attacked young service sector workers last week, this is another slap in the face to restaurant owners and employees,” said Todd Stone, BC Liberal Critic for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.

“The NDP is basically acknowledging their overall program for small business — the business recovery grant program specifically — has been a disaster. All they have done today is give a new name to a pool of money that already exists, to cover up for the NDP’s incompetence — they had no plan to help the sector before, and they still don’t today. Far too many questions remain for restaurant owners and employees.”

 

Stone noted the lack of clarity in the NDP’s so-called “Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant” and asked that they provide answers to the following questions:
  • Why are applications not open today, and why did government not have this in place on the same day that the newest health orders were announced?
  • How long will it take for a business to be approved for funds?
  • Can businesses that have already been approved for recovery grant funding, and those that have received recovery grant funding to date, also receive this additional support?
  • How will businesses prove they have suffered economically from the recent health orders?
  • What is the rationale for providing this support only to businesses opened as of February 1, 2021? What about businesses desperate for support and trying to hang on that closed prior to that date?

“John Horgan should have announced new funding to support struggling small businesses, ensured that this funding was in place on the same day as the recent health orders were announced, and fixed his botched business recovery grant program,” concluded Stone.

“Catchphrases don't cut it anymore — people are losing their jobs and need actual assistance. It’s time for the NDP to stop bungling and provide meaningful relief for businesses and people in need.”

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FORSETH: Without a strong local presence, there is NO reason for anyone to tune in to local(?) radio

LOCAL HOMETOWN RADIO IS DYING … and without serious measures put in place, it will likely never see the light of day again. For well over four decades, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) has presided over its’ demise, and for that I say, “Shame”. Without out a word to say enough was enough, the CRTC has allowed corporate Canada to buy up one radio station after the other, and then allowed them to slash staff to the point where some so-called local radio stations do nothing more than air programming that originates from communities well outside the region in which they are located. Case in point?   On CHNL* 610 in Kamloops, the morning show hosted by Vinnie and Randi, DOES NOT originate from Kamloops -- it doesn’t even originate here in BC. It’s a program that Stingray airs across multiple radio stations in Western Canada. It doesn’t end there. Not only are Vinnie and Rando doing mornings on CHNL, but they also show up on sister station Country 103 … and of course o...
5 comments
Read more

Conservative Economic Team Responds to Urgent Industry Concerns

 " For far too long, the BC NDP has ignored the economic challenges facing British Columbians. Manufacturing jobs are vanishing, forestry is in decline, and private sector employment growth has stagnated. Meanwhile, affordability has worsened for both families and businesses. British Columbians deserve better, and we’re here to deliver real solutions to rebuild our economy and create jobs that support everyday working people and their families ." – Gavin Dew, MLA and Shadow Minister for Jobs, Economy, Development, and Innovation.   December 3, 2024, Vancouver, BC – The Conservative economic team met today with business leaders and stakeholders to tackle critical issues impacting British Columbia’s economy. Attended by 9 critics from the Conservative Caucus, this meeting was convened by MLA Gavin Dew – Shadow Minister for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation - as a direct response to an October 30th open letter from seven of the province’s largest industry associations. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

WARD STAMER -- We need certainly in our markets, and certainly in our fibre supply, before we no longer have a forest industry in this province

Image Government of BC I think we all realize that the threat of Trump’s 25% tariff is like other provocative statements he’s made in the past. That said, we should have reason to be concerned. Tariffs don’t benefit anyone. A tariff of that magnitude – included on our own softwood lumber exports, will make things more expensive for Americans, and cause friction in the supply chain. If imposed, a twenty-five percent tariff will be equally detrimental to the citizens and economy of the United States, as well as the people of BC. There are two things, however, of equal concern to the threat of punitive tariffs by incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. One is our antiquated stumpage fees. It is a legacy from decades ago, and one incapable of responding to changing market conditions. We need to revamp our stumpage system to better reflect market conditions, and our economic costs. Instead, a value-added tax system will be instantly responsive to current market conditions and will encou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more