VICTORIA, B.C. – The B.C. NDP government has announced $5 billion in income supports, tax relief and direct funding for people, businesses and services affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is an unprecedented moment in time requiring an extraordinary response, and we will work with the Provincial Government and all Members of the Legislature to ensure British Columbians are supported through the early stages of this pandemic,” said Adam Olsen, interim leader of the B.C. Green Party, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. “We stand strong and unified in the need for a rapid response in the face of this provincial health crisis.”
Today’s legislation is focused on supporting the province's health response to COVID19. This fiscal package is focused on making it economically possible for people and businesses to survive a period of economic shutdown as everyone engages in social distancing. Social distancing remains the best policy we have in order to flatten the curve and limit the spread of this virus.
“What is most important right now is that the government acts rapidly to get financial resources into the hands of British Columbians and our small businesses. The BC Green Caucus supports a rapid fiscal response from the province. We will work to ensure that policy gaps are highlighted and will be advocating for longer term recovery that is designed for where we must go as a province,” said MLA Olsen.
“The immediacy of today’s response will need to be followed by additional measures to address any gaps that exist, as well as eventually turning our attention to how we recover as a province,” said Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley. “We are collaborating with our partners in this minority government to determine how we will work together on long-term solutions. We must ensure that additional policy actions are taken to not only address the short-term urgent needs of British Columbians, but to look forward at how we can build a fairer, more sustainable and more resilient province on the other side of this crisis.”
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