MLA speaks to one-year anniversary of Covid-19 in Canada
By Katrine Conroy
Dear Community Member,
It has been one year since B.C.’s first joint statement about the novel coronavirus (now termed COVID-19) from Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Since that date, our world has changed dramatically. We have all felt the impacts of the pandemic on our lives, our families, and our communities.
This last year has reminded us of the importance of taking care of each other. Not just taking care of our family and friends, but taking care of our neighbours, our fellow community members, and every other British Columbian. By following the public health guidance and orders, we are each helping to keep countless other people safe, many of whom we don’t know.
Our New Democrat government has remained focused on taking care of people in B.C. so that our province can recover from the pandemic and come back even stronger.
Last week, we announced that we are training more Community Mental Health Workers and Health Care Assistants across B.C. These training programs will lead to rewarding, high-demand careers, and create more qualified workers to provide care to those who need it most, including our seniors in long-term care, and our neighbours dealing with addiction and mental health issues.
We are also helping people with developmental disabilities to find meaningful, stable employment, with $10 million in funding for Community Living BC employment support services. The funding will help people who may have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic to find new employment while following pandemic safety protocols.
To help artists who have been impacted financially by the pandemic, our government is creating a new $500,000 Pivot for Individuals program through the BC Arts Council. The program will help professional artists and those in the cultural sector to adapt their practices, for example delivering performances virtually or learning a new skills like video editing.
This will support those in the industry right now, and ensure B.C.’s arts scene is there for everyone to enjoy in the future.
As always, if you have questions or need any assistance with provincial COVID-19 supports, or other provincial issues, please reach out. My office can be reached at 250-304-2783 or katrine.conroy.MLA@leg.bc.ca.
Sincerely,
Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West
COVID Resources:
· For medical info, visit covid-19.bccdc.ca or call 811
· For the BC Recovery Benefit, visit gov.bc.ca/recoverybenefit or call 1-833-882-002
· For financial supports for people and businesses, visit this page.
· For PHO restrictions, visit this page.
· For seniors looking for additional support, or for those looking to support seniors, call 2-1-1 or visit bc211.ca
· For virtual mental health resources, click here.
