Wishing you a happy holidays and looking forward to 2022

As I look back on 2021, I am grateful for all of the ways people here in our community and across B.C. have stepped up to support each other this year.

There is a lot of work ahead for us in 2022, as we continue to support people through the pandemic and the ongoing recovery from recent weather events. But I’m also proud of some of our major accomplishments in 2021 that have helped to make life better for people.

Over 90% of British Columbians stepped up to protect each other and get vaccinated. While there are still uncertainties with COVID-19, I know that people in B.C. will show up once again to get their booster shots. I also know this holiday season that individually and together we will make decisions to keep each other safe.

This year, we took significant steps to combat the toxic drug crisis, including applying to Health Canada to decriminalize people who use drugs, and expanding our safe supply program to help more people. And we have accelerated steps to reach our climate goals under CleanBC, the most ambitious climate plan in North America.

There’s still much more to do, and we’re going to keep working hard every day to build a stronger B.C. for everyone. 

In 2022, we will introduce legislation that requires cooling-off periods for home purchases, to help protect people buying homes. We will also be bringing forward comprehensive anti-racism data legislation, and beginning work on a multi-year action plan to address gender-based violence. 

Beginning on January 1, 2022, all employees in B.C. will have a minimum of five days of paid sick leave. These are just a few of the ways we will continue to work for you.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any provincial issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Our office will be closed from December 24 to January 3, and will re-open on Tuesday, January 4. If you require immediate assistance, please contact Service BC at 1-800-663-7867 or call BC 211 (dial 211) for community resources. My office can be reached at 604-936-8709 or Rick.Glumac.MLA@leg.bc.ca.

Wishing you and your family a happy holidays, Rick 

Helpful resources:      

• For medical info on COVID-19: covid-19.bccdc.ca or call 811
• For vaccination info and the BC vaccine card, visit this page https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register
• To find mental health and substance-use supports, visit wellbeing.gov.bc.ca
• To find supports for those affected by floods: https://www.gov.bc.ca/FloodResponse

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Remembering Mary Anne Cooper and her contribution to our community

Last month, Port Moody lost Mary Anne Cooper. A role model for our community, Mary Anne will be remembered for her lifetime of accomplishments in education, local activism, and heritage preservation. Read more

Paid sick leave coming for all British Columbians on Jan 1

BC workers shouldn't have to choose between going to work sick or losing wages. Paid sick leave will be standard for eligible workers in British Columbia beginning January 1, with a minimum of five paid sick days each year. Learn more

Rent Bank coverage now BC-wide

BC has become the first province in Canada with 100% rent bank coverage. 

Now no matter where you live in B.C., renters can access interest-free loans to make sure a missed rent cheque doesn't put people at risk of homelessness.

Here in the Tri-Cities, a rent bank launched in March 2020 and is run by SHARE Family and Community Services with funding in partnership with the VanCity Foundation, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada. The Tri-Cities SHARE Rent Bank program makes loans available to Tri-Cities residents who have short term financial issues that are putting their tenancy in jeopardy.

Connect with SHARE's Rent Bank: https://sharesociety.ca/tri-cities-share-rent-bank

Read more: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-rent-bank

Protecting Indigenous identity under the Human Rights Code

Anti-Indigenous racism is a serious problem, rooted in B.C.’s harmful legacy of colonialism and residential schools. Our government has changed B.C.’s Human Rights Code to explicitly include Indigenous Identity as a protected human right. This is a step forward to help combat racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples in B.C. Learn more

I’m grateful for the many great conversations at our Holiday Open House last week at our Community Office. It was good to hear people's concerns and to share some holiday cheer.

Come by our community office in January and check out the vibrant work of Port Moody Art Association members Daphne Douglas and Debbie Halyk.

Staying safe and protecting our community over the holidays

To help keep people safe over the holidays, public health measures have been put in place to help further protect people and our health care system, as B.C. experiences a rapid and concerning increase in COVID-19 cases. The provincial health officer has issued two sets of public health orders.

• Gatherings limited to your household plus one other or 10 guests, all vaccinated.
• No indoor organized gatherings of any size including parties, celebrations
• All indoor venues reduced to 50% capacity, including concerts, movies and sports
• Adult gyms, fitness centre and advance studios closed
• Bars and nightclubs closed
• Maximum 6 people per table and no mingling at restaurants and pubs
• All events and venues required to  scan the BC Vaccine Card QR code
• No sports tournaments

Health authorities are expanding the targeted use of rapid tests and accelerating the rollout of boosters for the general population from January to March 2022. Non urgent scheduled surgeries are being postponed starting January 4 to help manage pressure on acute care facilities.

Learn more and stay informed about public health restrictions: gov.bc.ca/Covid19Restrictions

COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 to 11

The end of November saw B.C.'s first kids aged 5-11 getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines are designed for children's immune systems, and are safe and effective. Register your kids to get vaccinated at gov.bc.ca/vaccineforkids, and book their appointment as soon as you are invited. Let’s ensure our children are protected and help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Planning for an Emergency, Preparing your Emergency Kit

With storms over that last month, many of us now have a heightened awareness of the impacts that natural disasters can have on our families and our communities. It’s a good time for all of us to review our emergency plans and check on or build our emergency kits.

PrepareBC has useful resources and guides available online to help you prepare and plan for your family, your business and even your pets here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc

So, let’s get your household emergency kit and grab-and-go bags packed.

You’ll need your household kit for power outages or if you’re asked to stay home and off the roads. You’ll need grab-and-go-bags if you need to leave quickly due to floods or potential landslides. You can get useful lists of what to include here: preparedbc.ca/emergencykits

As well as a kit, make an emergency plan to help you and your household respond to a disaster. Knowing what to do will reduce anxiety and help keep you focused and safe.  

Download a fill-in-the-blanks emergency plan: www.preparedbc.ca/emergencyplans

My office is here to help. Contact us.

When you contact my community office, my staff and I will do everything we can to assist. Your confidentiality is respected at all times. To give you a better idea of how we can help, please review the following information:

What my Community Office can help you with:

• Providing information on locating government services and contact information
• Assisting in understanding government policies and services
• Assisting in navigating through government bureaucracy
• Ensuring due process is being followed
• Attending community events
• Accepting practicum students
• Providing congratulatory and greeting messages
• Providing government documents, legislation discussion papers and other web-based forms if you don’t have internet access
• Assisting with issues you may be having with provincial ministries or agencies. However, by law, there are some things we cannot help you with.

We can help you if:

• You are a resident of the Port Moody - Coquitlam riding; and,
• Your matter is with the provincial government.