Please find below my monthly Coast to Capital submission to The Local Weekly for March 2020:

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health emergency in our Province. Our priority is to keep Canadians safe and healthy while responding to quickly-evolving challenges. We face, among other things, an unprecedented:

• Public health challenge to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19;
• Economic and financial challenge to support workers and businesses through a prolonged downturn;
• Peacetime consular and logistical challenge to repatriate Canadians; and
• Immediate collective action challenge to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Public Health Agency of Canada updates its recommendations and directives to respond to fast changing circumstances. We must all follow the directives of federal and provincial public health officials, including Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. The latest information on prevention, preparedness, and travel health advice can be found at canada.ca/coronavirus, by calling 1-833-784-4397, or at the BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19, or by calling 811.
Our Government established the $1 billion COVID-19 Response Fund to support the provinces and territories to fight the virus, including by increased screenings and testing, and enhanced research and coordinated action among all levels of government.

The Federal Government immediately set up the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which provides $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses, plus $55 billion through tax deferrals to stabilize the economy. We created a wage subsidy for businesses, waived the waiting period to qualify for EI and the Work-Sharing Program, are creating new programs to cover non-eligible workers, allowing for deferred mortgage payments, and much more. Download the Canada Business App to find tailored supports for your specific needs and questions, and contact your bank to access the up to $300 billion in loans we have made available. More help is forthcoming.

Strict travel restrictions are in place for foreigners coming to Canada, and countries around the world have done the same. We continue to request that Canadians come home so that they can be safe here. All Canadians abroad should register with the Registry of Canadians Abroad (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration) and check the entry/exit requirements of the countries through which they will transit. An emergency loan is available to help Canadians abroad, and our team is working hard with consular services to help our community members get
home.

The only way we avoid the worst effects of the pandemic is if we all play our part. That means observing good hygiene practices, keeping two metres of social distance from others, and completely isolating yourself for two weeks if you show any symptoms. We will get through this together.

Our office is here to help you through this difficult time. Please reach out to us: 6367 Bruce Street, West Vancouver, V7W2G5 604-913-2660 [email protected]. If you would like to receive updates on COVID-19 please send your email to [email protected]. Our website www.patrickweiler.libparl.ca should be operational by Friday April 3 for updates going
forward.