Northern Rockies Regional Municipality

COVID-19 Information for Residents

CONTENTS

NRRM COVID-19 Updates

BC's Restart Plan

General Resources

Assistance Programs

 

NRRM Covid-19 Updates

2020 May 27: Property Tax Notices

2020 April 10: From the Mayor's Desk (video)

2020 March 31: From the Mayor's Desk

2020 March 28: Fly-in Fly-out Workers

 

Previous COVID-19 updates

 

BC's Restart Plan

Medical professionals speculate it could be 12 to 18 months before a vaccine is developed. Until then, the challenge for all British Columbians will be modifying our behaviour and protective measures cautiously to allow for greater interactions without putting the health of our loved ones, friends and neighbours at risk. B.C.’s restart will be a careful, step-by-step process to ensure all of our combined efforts and sacrifices are not squandered. BC's Restart Plan

Safety Resources for Business

 

General Resources

 

Please refer to official sources regarding the coronavirus, as misinformation has been circulating on social media.

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Assistance Programs

Grocery Delivery for Seniors & Vulnerable Persons

Several local organizations have partnered with Fort Nelson IGA to provide weekly grocery delivery to seniors and at-risk residents, so that they can safely maintain isolation. Grocery Delivery for Seniors & Vulnerable Persons

 

B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers

The B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers rpovides a one-time $1,000 payment to people who lost income because of COVID-19.

  • B.C. residents who receive federal Employment Insurance, or the new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit are eligible
  • Applications for the one-time payment will open soon
Climate Action Tax Credit

A one-time enhancement to the climate action tax credit will be paid in July 2020 for moderate to low-income families:

  • An adult will receive up to $218.00 (increased from $43.50)
  • A child will receive $64.00 (increased from $12.75)
Support for Income & Disability Assistance

Due to COVID-19, new emergency measures are in place to ensure that people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors, do not encounter additional barriers.

  • Income Assistance
  • Disability Assistance
  • Comforts Allowance
  • BC Senior's Supplement

You will automatically receive a $300 supplement on your cheques issued in April, May, and June. No action is required on your part.

  • If you are receiving federal EI or the CERB and receiving:
  • Income Assistance
  • Disability Assistance

You will not be eligible for the $300 supplement. 

 

CERB and EI are temporarily exempt, meaning they will have no effect on your regular Income Assistance or Disability Assistance.

 

Apply for the CERB

Applications will open on April 6, please visit the federal website for instructions.

 

Renters, Homeowners and People Experiencing Homelessness

Funding for housing supports are increased to ensure people can maintain their housing in the event of job or income loss.

B.C. Student Loans

Starting March 30, 2020, B.C. student loan payments are automatically frozen for six months.

 

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Contains Federal programs to support individuals and businesses

 

United Way Northern British Columbia (UWNBC): COVID-19 Relief Fund Application for Non-Profit Organizations

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Monthly Bills

 

BC Hydro  1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376):

If you meet the eligibility criteria for both, you can apply for both the Customer Crisis Fund and the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

  • COVID-19 Relief Fund allows eligible residential customers who have experienced job loss to receive three months of free credit on their BC Hydro bill based on their average consumption. The COVID-19 Relief Fund also allows eligible small businesses that needed to close due to COVID-19 to have up to three months of electricity charges waived. BC Hydro COVID-19 Relief Fund Fact Sheet [PDF - 220 KB]
  • Customer Crisis Fund  Customers experiencing job loss, illness or lost wages due to COVID-19 can access grants up to $600 to pay their hydro bills through the Customer Crisis Fund

  • COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program for residential and commercial customers that are not eligible for our COVID-19 Relief Fund, the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program is available which allows you to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty.

Fortis BC  1-888-224-2710: 

  • At this time, no customer will be disconnected from the energy they need, whether it be natural gas, electricity or propane, due to financial hardship – regardless of the amount owing.
  • If you have a balance currently owing, you will not have to pay a late fee. This applies to homeowners, renters and small businesses.

ICBC: 

ICBC has implemented some changes to help customers manage the financial impacts of COVID-19. 

  • Fleet customers can choose to suspend their insurance and do not have to cancel their plates. If they have already cancelled, the new plate fee will be waived when they re-plate or add a new vehicle.
  • For customers with individual-rated policies, ICBC is waiving cancellation and plating fees associated with cancelling and reinsuring vehicles at a later date.
  • ICBC customers—including volunteers—may now use their vehicles for the delivery of essential goods, such as food or medical products and services, without changing their insurance or paying a higher premium.
  • Customers whose Learner Driver’s Licences (class 5-8) expire during the pandemic, will not have to pay the fee for the first knowledge test once testing resumes.
  • Customers on a monthly payment plan who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19 may defer their payment for up to 90 days with no penalty using the online resource tool. This includes fleets.

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality 250.774.2541

No late payment fees will be applied to water & sewer utility and accounts receivable billings.

 

Northwestel

Every Northwestel residential Internet customer in Northern Canada will receive temporary relief on their Internet usage until the end of May. For residential Cable Internet customers, this means overage fees will be waived during this period. Internet usage relief is valid until June 30, 2020. No action is required. Visit nwtel.ca/COVID to learn more.

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