Victoria City Council is moving to provide relief and support during the COVID19 pandemic.
Holding a news conference outside city hall, which has restricted access due to the health crisis, Mayor Lisa Helps says councillors have passed a number of measures aimed at helping residents, local business and the non-profit sector facing hardship.
To further protect residents and City staff from the current threat of novel coronavirus (COVID-19 council is cancelling all public hearings, and clearing the way to conduct council meetings online until the health emergency is declared over by the Provincial Health Officer.
Other actions being pursued:
Business:
Council has directed staff to examine all of the City's fiscal, legislative and legal powers to support small businesses and jobs, the non-profit sector, arts and culture and the tourism sector in order to sustain the local economy during the pandemic, and aid in a stronger more resilient recovery.
Financial Hardship:
Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing substantial economic hardship for many people, businesses and community organizations, Council has directed staff to prepare bylaw amendments allowing for the temporary waiver of financial penalties for non-payment of municipal utilities fees and taxes during provincially declared emergencies:
o Repurposing under-utilized facilities for emergency shelter and healthcare for the unhoused, to allow for social distancing, proper care, harm reduction, and recovery.
o Emergency regulations to restrict evictions of tenants who have suffered a loss of earnings due to quarantine, self-isolation, layoff or declining economic activity.
o Temporary deferral of fees, taxes and other payments owing to the City from those suffering hardship.
" Council has authorized the City's Real Estate staff to look at potential options to provide relief for businesses located in City-owned properties on a case-by-case basis, and encourages all landlords to work with their tenants to explore options that work for both parties.
Advocate to the Governments of British Columbia and Canada for immediate action on:
o Emergency housing and healthcare for the unhoused through the retrofitting of underutilized facilities to allow for social distancing, proper care, harm reduction and recovery.
o Income support through Employment Insurance, statutory Paid Sick Leave provisions and/or other programs to replace earnings that have been lost as a result of COVID-19, with immediate and retroactive effect, including eligibility for precariously employed workers in the service sector and "gig economy", self-employed workers and small business operators.
o A temporary moratorium on evictions, foreclosures and payment of debt and utility fees.
o Support for Indigenous communities that are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to substandard health, housing, water and social service systems.
o Temporary deferral of payroll deduction remittances (i.e. EI, CPP, Income Tax) and income tax instalment payments where necessary to reduce pressure on business cash reserves and maintain payment to employees and suppliers.
Other Actions: