Businesses Province-Wide Call on Labour Minister to Urgently Act to Avoid More Employee Terminations and Forced Small Business Bankruptcies

Business organizations representing almost all of British Columbia’s 500,000 business are frustrated by Labour Minister Harry Bains refusal to appreciate the severity of current business challenges. At issue specifically is the potential for bankruptcy and insolvency for thousands of small and medium sized business and not -for-profits as they are forced to payout severance costs due to the unforeseen circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister has it within his power to provide a Ministerial Order to extend the temporary lay-off time limits under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to provide employers with the "breathing room” needed to survive, recover, and facilitate return-to-work for laid-off employees as possible.