For all Burnaby residents, we are recommending you visit burnabycoronavirus.com for all resources pertaining to Burnaby residents. The information on there is in multiple languages.
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Thanks to @bmsswellnesscouncil for the graphics. Some great resources here if anyone needs...also feel free to email me or message @byrnecreekcommunityroom if you need help with anything!
This is a message written by one of our alumni, Virginia Chiu: "Byrne Creek is known for our strong sense of community. During COVID - 19 our community will benefit from people who help support our vulnerable population. Several families rely on our school for daily meals. Since school has been out of session, there is now an urgent need to help our families feed their children. We are looking for your support by providing gift cards or donations for families to buy groceries. We are all in this together. Byrne Creek has HEART, let's give it where it counts. To donate, please click on this link: https://burnaby.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/635/16/false/true and specify "community room" in the Memo. Thank you for your support." COVID-19 Government Financial Supports
We have listed below a summary of official government announcements and current public health orders. Each category listed contains information that will be helpful to you. Info from: http://melaniemarkmla.ca/index/covid-19-government-financial-supports/ HOUSING BC Hydro - Bill deferral, payment plans, as well as crisis funding is available.Call 1-800-BC-HYDRO or apply online. Freeze on rental rates - No rent increases are allowed in BC, effective April 1.No action needed. Contact RTB with questions. BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS) - Provides up to $500/month towards rent, paid directly to landlords.Applications open mid-April. More info here. Mortgages (CMHC-insured) - Mortgage payment deferrals available for CMHC-insured loans.Check with your lender. Mortgages (non-CMHC)Check with your lender about payment deferral options.Check with your lender. Emergency Housing - Existing shelters still active and additional emergency options may be available.Call 2-1-1 or search online. See more re: Housing. PERSONAL INCOME – WORKFORCE Employment Insurance (EI)Existing EI benefit continues to be available. Provides up to $573/week to people who have lost income. Apply online. EI Sickness Benefit - One-week waiting period has been waived.Call 1-833-381-2725 or apply online. Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)Provides $2000/month to workers who lose income due to COVID-19, including contractors and self-employed people. (Note: Previous description implied only those who do not qualify for EI are eligible for CERB. However, CERB may actually take the place of EI for new applicants when available. In the meantime, those who qualify for EI should continue to submit for EI, as it is a benefit that lasts up to 45 weeks and can continue after the CERB benefit ends on Oct 3.)Applications open on April 6. Get ready to apply by ensuring you are registered for My Account with the CRA and have set up direct deposit. More info here. BC Emergency Benefit - One-time additional tax-free payment of $1000 to those on EI or CERB.Check back for application instructions. See more re: Labour & Industry. INCOME SUPPLEMENTS FOR PEOPLE GST-credit - One-time boost of up to $600 per eligible couple, $400 for eligible individuals in May.Benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here. Climate Action Tax Credit - One-time boost of up to $564 for eligible families of 4 and $218 for eligible individuals in an enhanced payment in July.Children under 18 years old must be registered for the CCB to qualify. No other action is needed; benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here. Canada Child Benefit (CCB)One-time boost of $300 per child in May.No action if you are already registered for CCB. Otherwise, apply online. Youth in Care - Youth in care will not age out of services during the pandemic. Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program payments will continue despite school closures and training interruptions. Young Adults Program (AYA) - Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program payments will continue to former youth-in-care despite school closures and training interruptions. Income Assistance - Existing Income Assistance program continues to be available for those in need with no other resources.Apply online, by phone at 1-866-866-0800, or visit your local office. People with Disabilities - Existing Disability Assistance program continues to be available. See also full list of additional supports here.Apply online, by phone at 1-866-866-0800, or visit your local office. Seniors - Existing programs continue to be available, including: —–Old Age Security (OAS): $614/mo (max) —–Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): $916/mo (max) —–Allowance / Allowance for Survivor: $1389/mo (max) Eligible seniors are automatically enrolled, but applications can also be submitted online. OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE Hospital parking - Parking is free of charge at all health authority owned/operated health care sites. ICBC - Monthly payment deferral for up to 90 days with no penalty.Call 1-800-665-6442 or apply online. Emergency Child Care Funding - Child care providers receiving emergency government funding cannot charge parent fees for any periods of closure or for vacant spaces and must reserve spaces for families, starting April.Check with your provider to see if they are in this program. BC Student Loans - Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April.Repayment will be paused automatically. Canada Student Loans - Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April.Repayment will be paused automatically. BC Transit & TransLink - Fare-free boarding on all buses. Enter through rear of the bus, unless accessible loading is required. Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) - Minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) has been reduced by 25% for 2020. Learn more here. Emergency Travel Loan - Emergency loan of $5000 available to Canadians travelling abroad.Dial +1 613-996-8885 or send an email. Income tax return - Filing due date is deferred to June 1. Payments owed are deferred until after August 31. BUSINESSES (GENERAL) BC Hydro - Bill deferral and payment plans.Call 1-800-BC-HYDRO. WorkSafeBCPayment deadlines are postponed without penalty. More info. Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy - Covers up to 75% of wages for businesses, charities, and non-profits that have lost more than 30% of their revenue. Max subsidy of $847 per week per employee, backdated to March 15.Check back for application instructions. Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) - Financing support for small and medium-sized businesses. Available mid-April. —–Canada Emergency Business Account: Loans of up to $40,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits, interest-free for one year. A portion may be forgivable. Available mid-April. —– Loan Guarantee: Operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs. Available mid-April. —–Co-Lending Program: Co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts of up to $6.25 million through the program. Available mid-April.Speak with your financial institution. Learn more. Federal income tax - Payments owed are deferred until after August 31. BC business taxes - Payments for Employer health tax (EHT), provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax, and carbon tax are deferred until after Sept 30. Scheduled April 1 increases to provincial carbon tax and PST are deferred. School Tax - Cut of 50% for business and industry property classes, to be passed onto tenants on triple-net leases. GST/HST - Payments owed deferred to June 30. Customs duties & taxes - Payments owed deferred to June 30. See more re: Businesses. Click here: BC Government Small Business Support List BUSINESSES (BY SECTOR) SupportDescriptionHow to Access Child care sector - Emergency funding is available for child care providers that stay open and that close.Learn more. Arts & Culture sector - $3-million Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement to give operating and eligible project clients a supplement of up to $15,000. Clients will receive a 50% advance on 2020-21 funding. Via BC Arts Council. Publishing and news sectors - Simplified process for Canada Book Fund and Canada Periodical Fund. Journalism Tax Measures. Broadcasting sector - CRTC Part I licence fees waived. Tourism businesses in national parks and historic sites - Tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas will have payments on commercial leases and licences of occupation deferred without interest until September 1.Wait to be contacted by Parks Canada. Seafood sector - Seafood growers, shellfish farmers, and processors, will have access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program.Via FCC. Farmers and Agri-Food sector - Access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program. Via FCC. Airports - Rents paid on ground leases waived. See more re: Businesses. FUNDING BOOSTS TO CHARITIES FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY Food Banks BC - Funding boost to Food Banks British Columbia, who will distribute the money among food banks province wide. Kids Help Phone - Funding boost to Kids Help Phone, which provides young people with mental health support. United Way Canada - Funding boost to United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors, such as: Delivery of groceries, medications, or other needed items, or personal outreach to assess individuals’ needs and connect them to community supports. Hello All - and welcome back "to school"!
If you need some help setting up online learning - please follow the advice below. If you need help getting a device - please email [email protected] Good luck to everyone this week! Hello Byrne Creek Fam! My hope, during these confusing times, is that you and your families are keeping well. For students - your teachers will be reaching out if you haven't heard from them already. Some important information here regarding doctor visits: if you, or someone you know, needs to visit the doctor - there are online doctor appointments that you can make. Doctors are reporting that they are seeing less patients than on average - and they are looking for ways to connect. Whether you feel like someone has COVID related symptoms are not, the doctors are here to help you. 1. Virtual appointments with a doctor from the comfort of your own home. 2. Lab test results & other requisitions on demand! 3.Prescriptions & renewals delivered right to your home. 4. Free for residents in BC Here is the link: https://virtual.wellclinics.ca/?utm_source=google_ads&utm_campaign=virtualclinic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9vuZ99jK6AIVlaDsCh2oRw9UEAAYASAAEgK8BPD_BwE If you need any further support please contact [email protected] or byrnecreekcommunityroom on instagram. |
Bal DhillonI am the author of this blog, and have the privilege of being the Community School Coordinator at Byrne Creek Community School. Archives
December 2020
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