For your business
Tax remittance
If your business has been affected by the fires, you can apply for tax remittance relief from the CRA and PST Branch while you navigate these difficult times. Please follow the link provided for steps on how file for relief with the CRA. For PST, CFIB has been in touch with the Branch. Taxpayers have been instructed to call the General Enquires number at 1-877-388-4440, to communicate to the Ministry that they have been impacted by the wildfires.
Emergency Preparedness
If your business has not been affected by the fires, however, you are located in an area where it may be at risk, now is the perfect time to formulate an Emergency Preparedness plan, should the unthinkable happen. If you do not currently have a plan in place, or don’t know where to begin, please follow this link to access a template.
Business Insurance
This is also a good time to review your business insurance to confirm whether or not you have wildfire coverage. Many insurance plans claim to cover fire damage, however in some cases this is only applicable to fire that was caused by the actions of the business or arson. Often, “acts of nature” are not included in business insurance plans unless specifically requested. Contact your business insurance provider today to ensure that your business is covered. If not, you may still be able to add this coverage.
Farming/ Agriculture
Your livelihood is your livestock. The BC Cattlemen’s Association is connecting ranchers who need to move their livestock with people who can help get horses and smaller animals out of evacuation areas with trailers. Additionally, there is a Facebook group, BC’s Emergency Livestock /Animal Evacuation Group has been created to connect those in need to those who can help. A wildfire animal rescue map has been set up to help plot out exact locations where people can offer trailers or pasture to people in need as well as plot out if they need trailers or trucks to haul livestock. Farmers who have been unable to have their livestock transported, have, in some cases, opened their gates to allow the animals to flee, with plans to round them up after the fires are extinguished.
Employees
If your business is affected by the wildfire, your employees will need the ability to collect Employment Insurance (EI). If you currently pay into EI, you will need this ability as well. To be prepared for this potential necessity, or to file an application, please visit this link.
Temporary Foreign Workers
Impacted employers who employ temporary foreign workers should note that periods of work stoppage, unemployment, or a weekly hour reduction, can be offset by periods of work that enable a worker to have an average of 30 hours per week over the entire employment period.
Employers who make the business decision to keep workers are expected to make up any income gaps if the circumstances prevent a worker from meeting a 30-hour average work week over the employment period. This may require an employer to top up workers’ pay to meet the average of 30 hours per week over the employment period. This is not required during weeks where workers receive income supports.
Temporary foreign workers are subject to provincial and, when applicable, federal employment regulations. Employers can legally layoff workers should a work stoppage make it impossible for the employer to fulfill their obligations under the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, under these circumstances, employers remain responsible for fulfilling other obligations under the LMIA, such as providing return airfare to workers where this is a Program requirement.
Should this not be feasible, if you have any questions, or need help with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, please contact the Employer Contact Centre.
Work-sharing Program
The Work-sharing Program has put special measures in place for businesses impacted by the wildfires. These measures are in place from June 25, 2023, through to November 4, 2023, for new, existing, and past (terminated an agreement within the past 28 weeks) employers who:
- Are located in affected areas and/or
- Have major customers and/or suppliers located in wildfire-affected areas
Work-Sharing Wildfire Special Measures flexibilities:
- decrease in business activity can be attributable to the Wildfires
- mandatory cooling-off period between Work-Sharing agreements is waived
- work reduction over the life of the agreement may exceed 60% but must be at least 10%
- recovery measures may focus on the business’ recovery from the impact of the Wildfires
More information is available on the Work-sharing Program website or by e-mailing edsc.dgop.tp.rep-res.ws.pob.esdc@servicecanada.gc.ca