Chamber urges government to help businesses with protective equipment

VERNON – The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to take immediate action to ensure businesses have the needed equipment to protect employees and customers.
 
In a letter to Premier John Horgan, the Chamber thanks the government for moving the economy towards recovery from Covid-19 but indicates that more could be done to encourage a successful transition.
 
“Specifically, we are hearing from businesses in the North Okanagan who are struggling to reopen their doors because accessing and affording personal protective equipment for themselves, their employees and customers has proven to be extremely challenging,” said Krystin Kempton, Greater Vernon Chamber president.
 
To assist with the situation, the Chamber is recommending the following actions be taken immediately by the provincial government:
 

• Provide and advertise a single source for those seeking information on re-opening, instead of expecting business owners to visit multiple sites;
• Create a central information hub for small business to find PPE that meets WorkSafeBC standards, with prices identified;
• Give refunds to employers from the WorkSafeBC surplus for their costs of PPE – up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the premiums they have paid.