The provincial government is asking British Columbians how it should spend $1.5 billion in stimulus funding.
B.C. Premier John Horgan and Finance Minister Carole James, speaking at the legislature on Wednesday, announced an 鈥渆conomic recovery outreach plan鈥� that will be guided by responses from B.C. residents.
鈥淲e are inviting British Columbians to tell us what they think,鈥� Horgan said.
Responses will be collected through an online survey and online discussions until July 21.
鈥淲hat I have noticed over the past number of months is that any time I have engaged with anyone, whether they are CEOs, whether they are managing a local restaurant or if they are just people walking down the Galloping Goose, everyone says how can I help?鈥� said Horgan. 鈥淎nd I want to take advantage of that.鈥�
In March, the province announced a $5-billion COVID-19 action plan 鈥� $3.5 billion to people and businesses during the pandemic and $1.5 billion for stimulus and recovery.
鈥淲e have been successful through the shutdown because we鈥檝e worked together,鈥� said Horgan. 鈥淲e will be successful in the recovery if we continue on that path.鈥�
The province has been receiving hundreds of economic recovery ideas from businesses, labour, not-for-profits, arts and culture organizations, and Indigenous leaders, said James.
鈥淭his is an opportunity for British Columbians to tell us their ideas, what matters to them over the next six weeks of consultation,鈥� said James. 鈥淲e want to hear from the public, because nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.鈥�
The province is not 鈥渟talling,鈥� said Horgan. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 agreement across the country that stimulus in a time when you are asking people to stay home is poorly spent resources.鈥�
As an example, the premier pointed to Destination B.C.鈥檚 plan for domestic tourism. That money is not well spent 鈥渋f we have not yet come to a place where we can lift travel restrictions.鈥�
Phase Three of the province鈥檚 restart plan won鈥檛 begin until after new modelling of virus transmission in B.C. is presented on Monday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful at that time we can move to full implementation of Phase Three of the recovery plan, which would include more travel throughout B.C.,鈥� said Horgan.
The premier said he hopes that modelling will allow for the lifting of restrictions on travel within Canada, however he is grateful the federal government has renewed international border restrictions until the end of July.
James said it鈥檚 important to consider age, gender, income level and job sector when assessing the impact of the pandemic.
The service sector 鈥� accommodation, food services and retail trade 鈥� accounts for 90 per cent of the job losses, said James. 鈥淭he lowest wage earners have been the hardest hit.鈥�
Young people and women have been the most vulnerable, she said.
鈥淭he youth unemployment rate is a staggering 29 per cent,鈥� James said. 鈥淎nd women make up more than 60 per cent of the job losses in the hardest-hit sectors.鈥�
鈥淭his summer, until July 21, we want people to tell us the barriers and strengths they see, and what are their priorities for the province.
鈥淲ould people benefit from more skills training or retraining? Is health care one of your spending priorities? Is access to child care holding you back from going back to work? Is growing the tech economy a priority that you have? Do we need to enhance relief programs? Do we need to address long-term gaps in our economy?鈥�
Horgan spoke about a Black man living with his family on central 91原创 Island experiencing racism and abuse because his licence plate is from Washington state 鈥� he has been unable to get a B.C. plate during the pandemic.
Horgan said the vast majority of British Columbians would be 鈥渉orrified that people of colour would be treated any differently than anyone else in B.C.
鈥淩acism is a scourge, as is COVID-19.鈥�
The premier said the province is committed to putting anti-racism programs in place.
Horgan said he spoke with Prime MInister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday about a wide range of issues, but front and centre was was a commitment from the federal and provincial governments to do more than make statements.
鈥淏ut to make absolute changes in how we implement programs and policies, starting with how our education system deals with systemic racism that has and continues to exist in B.C., how the federal government can look at the Criminal Code to make sure that anti-hate laws are strong enough to get the results that I think all 91原创s want to see,鈥� said Horgan.
To hear that an individual on 91原创 Island has been ridiculed because of the colour of his skin and the licence plate on the car he drives 鈥渋s unacceptable to me, and I鈥檓 absolutely confident the overwhelming majority of B.C.ers feel exactly the same way,鈥� said Horgan.
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The province will hold a series of townhall meetings online. The first is scheduled with Finance Minister Carole James on June 25 from noon to 1 p.m. Details on the recovery ideas website..
