The province wants to see changes to the Employment Standards Act to protect workers and employment insurance in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as it is expected to affect the global and local economy.
In the meantime, Finance Minister Carole James pointed out the supply chain is 鈥渉ealthy鈥� and there is enough food and goods coming into B.C.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 any need to overstock your supply 鈥� doing so will put at risk seniors, single parents and others who need those necessities,鈥� James said. 鈥淪hop well and plan ahead but please don鈥檛 go overboard at other people鈥檚 expense.鈥�
Details are being hammered out with the federal government on an aid package 鈥� $1 billion has been announced by the federal government.
The B.C. government is advocating for changes to employment insurance to tide people over who are affected economically the outbreak, James explained.
Changes to employment insurance might mean extending it to those who don鈥檛 typically qualify, explained James, for example, self-employed, contract and part-time workers.
James said B.C. has three priorities: health and safety, working with federal government to bring immediate relief for people and businesses and rebuilding B.C.鈥檚 economy.
鈥淭here is no question COVID-19 will have global impacts and, of course, British Columbians will have impacts,鈥� James said.
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