The Tumbler Ridge Chamber is petitioning the provincial government to help support small business owners.
According to the Chamber president, me, getting Covid testing and results continues to be a challenge for business owners in Northeastern BC, where it is not uncommon to hear from businesses who have reported waiting up to two days for an appointment and up to five days for results.
This puts significant pressure and stress on business owners, as they examine what their employee’s health conditions are, what impact they may have on their day-to-day operations, and more.
“Having late access to tests and results can cause delays in businesses managing staffing, shifts, and availability. Extended time frames create frustrations and hardships for employees who may choose to not self isolate until they receive test results,” I said.
“I spoke to a single mom whose daughter tested positive for Covid. After paying for a rapid test for her daughter, the mother couldn’t afford to get a rapid test for herself. The small business owner who the mother works for wasn’t offering to pay for rapid testing as the business is struggling due to Covid. The mom felt she was left with no choice so went back to work and waited for the regular test to be available.”
And so, the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce, along with the Dawson Creek and Chetwynd Chambers of Commerce, are asking the government to provide grants for employers to assist in rapid testing for employees. “As part of Covid relief, the provincial government has previously offered grants to business for supplies like masks, hand sanitizers, and plexi-glass. It is our belief that the grant could also be extended to cover the costs of rapid testing in the future.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
