Wednesday April 22, 2020 ~ VICTORIA
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Today April 22 Premier John Horgan offered his regular weekly media availability.
Now about six weeks into the main socioeconomic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, he fielded questions from journalists on a range of topics all relating in some way to the impacts of the pandemic.
Disappointment over the recent poultry facility outbreak:
Horgan expressed disappointment “on a number of levels” about the COVID-19 outbreak at a poultry processing plant in east Vancouver.
He noted in particular that people going to work even if they’re sick (evidently so they can meet their own financial obligations) is something that needs to be addressed in the BC job market and economy.
Horgan said the industrial plant outbreak at United Poultry Co Ltd where 28 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 would “skew the numbers” within BC’s attempts to have a successful flattening of the COVID-19 epidemiological curve that is tracked and maintained by the BC Centre for Disease Control. That plant has been closed down, which will affect the supply and price of chicken to restaurant and grocery stores.
Horgan hopes that BC will be not so dependent on foreign supply chains going forward, underlining the importance of local food production as made more evident by how the impact of the poultry processing plant (as well as the beef processing plant in Alberta) is going to have on prices and availability of staples in the BC consumer food basket.
Recovery plans in the works:
Horgan said his cabinet has been working on economic recovery plans from the outset of the pandemic period. “We need to be guided by the science,” he said, of course referencing the requirement for physical distancing, self-isolation and a host of other practicalities like hand-washing that are inherent in all of the PHO’s orders.
Horgan does not see a re-opening of provincial parks anytime soon, as the long-distance travel for most people to reach those parks puts the rest of British Columbians at risk. There has been a notable decline in traffic accidents during physical movement restrictions in BC, which helps alleviate the load on first responders and ambulance services whose availability and resources (vehicles, personnel and PPE) are needed on a moment’s notice for COVID-related crises and also lessens the undue exposure of first responders to COVID infection.
“There will be challenges, no question. Cabinet will be considering how to phase-in a return to normalcy. We’ve been working on that since the beginning,” said Premier John Horgan, who maintains that he continues to be optimistic about where BC had head into the ‘new normal’. He noted how the restaurant sector is already working on better ways to function, and how the health care sector is working on ways to ensure that the hospital sector is safe. Cooperation amongst everyone in the BC economy is “the only way to feel safe,” he said today.
More aware of needs for enabling remote learning:
Another of the many things that COVID-19 has brought to light for the BC Premier and his cabinet is the need to ensure that all students and families are equipped with or have access to internet technologies that will enable remote learning as part of the K-12 education system going forward.
This reveals the considerable likelihood that full classrooms of students will not be part of the new normal for public education, but rather a hybrid of in-class and remote learning which Dr Henry has begun to discuss in her daily media briefings.
Transportation as part of the economy:
Horgan also said his government is well aware of how integrated transportation is to the functioning of the BC economy. He said the ‘asks’ are endless … whether it’s he as Premier asking the federal government for funding of transit and transportation infrastructure projects, or British Columbians asking for more services, or the transportation providers themselves (such as BC Ferries and BC Transit) needing and asking for more.
Overall successes for British Columbians during COVID-19:
Horgan began his half-hour discussion with media with a long list of things his government has achieved and overall done well in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that in combination with the federal government that BC is “providing relief for people”.
“There is property tax relief for British Columbians and local governments, the BC business hotline, mental health programs, emergency resources for people with disabilities, and emergency resources for others across the board,” as listed off by the premier.
Horgan also noted his government’s introduction of restrictions on price gouging, as as well as technology grants for students — both as measures to protect and support British Columbians.
Emergency Benefit for Workers still in the works:
The Emergency Benefit for Workers program will provide $1,000 as a supplement to workers during COVID-19 “will start flowing in May”, said Horgan. “That was our expectation. Those processes are being worked on.” The Emergency Benefit for Workers webpage was last updated on April 1.
British Columbians can subscribe to be notified about eligibility requirements and how to apply for the benefit.
Announcing new urgent primary health care centres:
The Premier was pleased that Health Minister Adrian Dix had yesterday announced three new urgent and primary care centres (at Vernon, Abottsford and Castelgar), adding that on April 27 the Urgent Primary Care Centre in downtown Victoria will open on Michigan Street behind the legislature in the James Bay area (which is Finance Minister Carole James’ home riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill). He said that urgent primary care centres are “part and parcel of our response to COVID-19”.
On the health side of things, he asked that British Columbians “recommit to each other and us moving forward together”. That’s in terms of maintaining the combination of orders by the PHO for physical distancing, self-isolating and working from home where possible, and staying home if not feeling well at all.
The role of UBCM during the pandemic:
When asked if he thought the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) could do more or anything differently, Horgan said he has spoken with UBCM President Maja Tait (who is Mayor of Sooke in his home riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca). He has seen UBCM so far itemizing the government’s programs so that they are “well understood” in large and small jurisdictions. He says there are weekly conference calls between government and UBCM, particularly Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson.
In the context of UBCM, Horgan admitted that services for people are “uneven across the board” around the various communities in BC. He said there is a need to look at the “capacity we need to provide services in this environment that is is brand new … we’re creating it as we go”.
As for municipalities during COVID-19: “They have had a precipitous decline in revenues — just as businesses have. Municipalities need to provide ways to find services but are constrained on borrowing and not being able to run deficits,” the Premier said. He said he was assured that UBCM will be part of the provincial government’s goal to “make sure we are lifting everyone up as best we can”.
Adhering to the path of success:
Horgan is pleased that British Columbians overall have been adhering diligently to the orders of Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr Bonnie Henry.
“Cooperation amongst all of us – and for the economy of BC – is the only way to feel safe,” Premier Horgan said today.
