International Flights Resume at YLW

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) announced that it will regain its international status for flights to and from Kelowna effective November 30. 

“Although our international status will be reinstated Nov. 30, it will take some time to have international flights operating again out of YLW. Some airlines have had to push back previously scheduled routes until 2022, due to the uncertainty of timing of YLW’s international status,” said Sam Samaddar, Airport Director. “We are thrilled to be able to once again connect passengers internationally and welcome visitors to our region, and are working closely with airlines to have these routes in place as soon as possible.”

Currently YLW is anticipating the return of the following routes in the near future:

• Alaska – Seattle – Dec. 16, 2021

• Sunwing – Varadero – January 2022

• WestJet – Phoenix, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun – January 2022

These routes are subject to change.

What passengers need to know about international flights:

• COVID testing requirements

  • When departing YLW:

    • As of Oct. 30, all passengers, 12 years of age and older, are required to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic or international flights. For more information on this mandate, please visit travel.gc.caopen_in_new or ylw.kelowna.ca/covid-19

    • Passengers are encouraged to talk to their airline to understand what the COVID-19 testing requirements are to enter their destination country.

    • The Whitecap RSC testing facility is available for any passenger who requires a COVID-19 antigen or molecular test (PCR test) prior to travel. Passengers wishing to access this testing can do so, for a fee and by appointment only, by visiting whitecapcovidtesting.com/kelownaopen_in_new or by open_in_newcalling 604-966-3777

  • When arriving in Canada:

    • Passengers can use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information before and after your entry into Canada.

  • More information about Government of Canada requirements can be found at travel.gc.ca/Travel-Covidopen_in_new

  • For more information about what to expect when travelling through YLW, visit: ylw.kelowna.ca/HealthyTravel

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan includes information on:

• Support for individuals

• Support for businesses

• Support for sectors

• Support for communities

• Other measures

• Completed measures

Targeted COVID-19 Support Measures to Create Jobs and Growth

With one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the world, many businesses safely reopening, and employment now back to pre-pandemic levels, Canadians have reached a turning point in the fight against COVID-19. The government has now surpassed its target of creating a million new jobs. Canada is on the road to economic recovery—but some areas of the country and economy continue to need targeted support.

The Government of Canada is taking targeted action to create jobs and spur economic growth. This includes moving from the very broad-based support that was appropriate at the height of lockdowns to more targeted measures that will provide help where it is needed, while prudently managing government spending.

The following changes to business support programs are being proposed:

• Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent and increase the subsidy rate to 50 per cent. The extension would help businesses continue to hire back workers and to create the additional jobs Canada needs for a full recovery.

• Deliver targeted support to businesses that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support would be available through two streams:

• Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.

• Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, would support other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent.

• Applicants for these programs will use a new “two-key” eligibility system whereby they will need to demonstrate significant revenue losses over the course of 12 months of the pandemic, as well as revenue losses in the current month.

• Businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns will be eligible for up to the maximum amount of the wage and rent subsidy programs, during the local lockdown, regardless of losses over the course of the pandemic.

• These programs will be available until May 7, 2022, with the proposed subsidy rates available through to March 13, 2022. From March 13, 2022, to May 7, 2022, the subsidy rates will decrease by half.

Big Thinking for Small Business Plan Updated | BC Chamber of Commerce

The BC Chamber of Commerce recently released its updated Big Thinking for Small Business, a bold plan to grow British Columbia’s economy by focusing on three pillars: inclusivity, innovation, and competitiveness.

Updated from the previous year’s Economic Recovery Submission, the Big Thinking for Small Business plan underpins the pan-provincial priorities as set out by the BC Chamber of Commerce to guide the province through continued recovery efforts.

To support the removal of economic barriers and to help pave the way for small- and medium-sized businesses to thrive once again, emphasis is placed on the critical need for action to address the skilled labour shortage and housing affordability.

The Big Thinking for Small Business plan outlines concise policies which will help inform the advocacy efforts of the BC Chamber of Commerce for the year ahead.

Voice Your Concerns

The tourism industry must continue to convey real time feedback that explains the actual state of tourism relative to what might be considered recovery.

Organizations like TOTA, TIABC, TIAC, and many others will use this information to further advocate for the needs of the industry, particularly for additional government assistance through the course of the pandemic.

Please take a few minutes to complete any surveys relevant to your interests to help dispel the misconception that business is as usual for the tourism industry.

We invite Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses to share any challenges so we can compile information on the evolving situation and share it with the appropriate parties, such as:

1. What challenges is your business currently experiencing?

2. How is this impacting your business?

3. What would help to improve the situation?

Feel free to share your current experiences at any time through the form at TOTABC.org/recovery or by emailing Recovery@TOTABC.com.

Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Eligibility Changes: Tourism Businesses Eligible for Up to $45,000 Non-Repayable Grant

The B.C. government has enhanced the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program to make it easier for businesses to qualify and has increased support for those in the hard-hit tourism sector.

Tourism businesses impacted by the pandemic will be eligible to receive between $10,000 and $45,000 in a non-repayable grant.

Adjustments made to the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program include a streamlined application process and simplified criteria to allow more businesses to be eligible.

Eligibility changes include:

• instead of requiring a revenue loss of 50% or more, the criteria has been reduced to 30% at the time of application;

• the requirement to list a variety of remittance accounts, like the registration numbers for the goods and services tax, provincial sales tax and WorkSafeBC, have been removed;

• businesses that have been in operation for the last 18 months are now eligible (reduced from three years). This means businesses only need to have been in operation nine months before the pandemic to apply for the grant;

• applications can now be submitted by sole proprietors; and

• businesses that are temporarily closed or seasonal are now eligible for the program.

The revised application process and eligibility criteria are now in place. Small- and medium-sized businesses are encouraged to apply.

For more information on the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program, including the application process and eligibility, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/economic-recovery/business-recovery-grant

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About StrongerBC

The grant is part of StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, which outlines the steps the Government of British Columbia is taking to help people, businesses and communities come out of COVID-19 stronger and better prepared. The changes to the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program were made in consultation with industry associations and business groups that represent the small and medium-sized business community.

For more information on StrongerBC, visit: StrongerBC.gov.bc.ca