Media Contacts

For non-medical information relating to COVID-19:

Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/COVID19
Email: servicebc@gov.bc.ca
Or call: 1 888 COVID-19

COVID-19 Joint Information Centre

Media Relations
236 478-1336

Lori Cascaden

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness
Email: lori.cascaden@gov.bc.ca
778 698-2892

Ben Stanford

Regional Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Email: ben.stanford@canada.ca
604 365-8050

James Blackwell

Marketing Manager
Small Business BC
Email: Blackwell.james@smallbusinessbc.ca
604 775-8151

Backgrounders

Information about supports for B.C. businesses
  • Small Business BC supports small business owners throughout B.C. to grow successful and sustainable businesses through expert advisors, educational services and easy-to-use free tools.
  • Funding for the B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service has been provided by the B.C. government ($250,000) and the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada ($100,000).
  • This funding will be used to provide system and hardware updates and hire additional staff to help field inquiries. 
  • The service will be in place from April 16 to June 30, 2020.
  • B.C.’s COVID-19 Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and brings aid to British Columbians.
  • The plan provides $5 billion that focuses on services to protect people’s health and safety, bringing financial relief for people and businesses.
  • It will also build B.C.’s plan for economic recovery in partnership with the business community.
  • Under the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada has announced multiple financial support measures for individuals and businesses.
  • This includes making $10 billion available to small businesses through Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada and working with the financial sector to increase lending capacity by $300 billion for small businesses across the country.