Premier John Horgan stated that the Province will move into Phase 3 of B.C.'s restart plan during a press conference early Wednesday afternoon.
However, when he was asked about the economic cost of the pandemic in B.C., Horgan said he couldn't give details.
"I can tell you that it is a hole, and it's a big one," Horgan said. "And it is shared by every province in the country."
Horgan added that the United States, as well as nations around the world, have also incurred staggering economic losses.
"This has been catastrophic for globalism. It's been catastrophic for the economy," he said.
Horgan adds that Finance Minister Carole James will release details about the eoncomy in the second week of July as the Province approaches the end of the first quarter.
"We're doing everything we can at this point to meet the needs of businesses and to meet the needs of people during this period," Horgan assured. "The economy is people. Whether you write the cheque or cash the cheque, you need each other.
"We're focused on making sure that businesses can get through this and that the employees they depend on can get through this."
The Province is now able to move into Phase 3 of its four phase COVID-19 restart plan. Horgan added that TransLink weekly ridership is more than double what it was at the COVID-19 low point on April 5, that children have gone back to school, and that a number of people have been out to enjoy parks and interact with one another.
Most of the businesses listed in Phase 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan now have the guidance they need to safely begin to open. WorkSafeBC, public health officials and industry representatives have developed guidelines for hotels and resorts, parks, the film industry and select entertainment, like movie theatres, and businesses in these sectors have already begun to open with COVID-19 safety plans in place.
