May 19, 2022 | International
The Government of Canada is investing $441,200 in ten British Columbia communities through the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). These initiatives will help communities make data-driven decisions about key infrastructure and ensure long-term infrastructure performance.
Ottawa, May 19, 2022— Managing municipal infrastructure effectively is vital to Canada’s economic competitiveness. Municipalities of all sizes need good asset management practices to build and maintain resilient and sustainable communities for all Canadians.
That is why the Government of Canada is investing $441,200 in ten British Columbia communities through the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). These initiatives will help communities make data-driven decisions about key infrastructure and ensure long-term infrastructure performance.
With funding from MAMP:
The Squamish Nation will develop an asset management policy and tools for everyday use in asset management, compiled in an “Asset Management Program Manual”. These tools will be developed in close collaboration with Nation staff and Council members, through workshops.
The Village of Lions Bay will develop a long-term asset replacement financial model & strategy, an asset management policy, annual reporting templates for measuring progress on Asset Management for council & public as well as improve its building asset inventory & condition data.
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will seek a consulting service to collect asset data and conduct an assessment. The goal is to inform the rehabilitation planning for its water features including decorative fountains, outdoor pools, wading pools and spray parks. The consultant will also provide an asset data inventory including detailed quantity, condition, expected service life and replacement value of assets and conduct multi-strategy life cycle cost analysis for producing an optimal rehabilitation and maintenance program.
Further information on the ten initiatives can be found in the backgrounder.
“Investments in infrastructure asset management projects help improve the quality of life of British Columbians. This funding from the Municipal Asset Management Program will ensure our communities have the technology and resources they need to adopt the best management practices and make evidence-based decisions.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South
“Well-maintained public infrastructure is crucial to creating sustainable and healthy communities. Through the Municipal Asset Management Plan, the Government of Canada is supporting municipalities and Indigenous governments in their work to make sound, data-driven decisions with respect to existing and new infrastructure to best serve their communities.”
Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
“Empowering municipalities to make strategic investment decisions regarding their municipal infrastructure assets is the goal of the Municipal Asset Management Program. FCM will continue to support municipalities with good asset management practices, planning, data collection and analysis so they can deliver essential services and ensure a high quality of life to their residents.”
Joanne Vanderheyden, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
Cell: (343) 574-8116
Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca
May 13, 2022 | International
2022 Employment Support Scheme receives nearly 180 000 applications from employers
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A Government spokesman said today (May 13) that at the close of applications for the 2022 Employment Support Scheme (2022 ESS) at 11.59pm last night (May 12), the Government had received 176 000 applications from employers, involving about 1 660 000 employees. The response has been overwhelming. Both the number of applications and the number of employees exceed the original estimate by the Government. Moreover, 119 000 self-employed persons (SEPs) submitted their applications.
The spokesman said, “The 2022 ESS, together with the Consumption Voucher Scheme, encourage employers to retain their current employees or even employ more staff members, full-time or part-time, as the epidemic stabilises. It can prevent the unemployment rate from rising further and accelerate the rebound of the local economy as the fifth wave of the epidemic subsides. Together with the one-off subsidy for eligible SEPs, we estimate the whole scheme will involve a total subsidy of around $39 billion.
“We have approved the first batch of around 45 000 applications from employers on May 10. These employers have committed to employ around 300 000 employees in May. Most of them should be receiving the wage subsidies of May within these two days. If the wage subsidies cannot be credited to the employers’ bank account successfully, the government-appointed agent will contact the relevant employers as early as possible to make other arrangements. The Government is processing the remaining applications at full steam, striving to finish vetting the second batch of applications next week.”
Apr 29, 2022 | International
2022 Employment Support Scheme meets with overwhelming response on first application day (with photo)
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A Government spokesman said today (April 29) that the 2022 Employment Support Scheme (2022 ESS) started off with an overwhelming response on its first day of the two-week application period.
“The online application portal was launched at 8am today and has been operating smoothly throughout the day. Up to 6pm today, we have received a total of over 42 000 applications from employers and about 27 000 applications from self-employed persons ,” the Government spokesman said.
The 2022 ESS provides three-month wage subsidies (i.e. May to July 2022) to eligible employers. There are a two-tier subsidy rates – a flat rate of $8,000 per month for each eligible employee with monthly income of $8,000 or more; and a flat rate of $4,000 per month for each employee with monthly income of $3,000 or more but less than $8,000, or each employee aged 65 or above earning less than $3,000 each month. Moreover, the scheme provides a one-off subsidy of $8,000 to eligible self-employed persons. Employers and self-employed persons should submit their applications online through the 2022 ESS website (www.ess.gov.hk/en/) by 11.59pm on May 12 (Thursday).
“To provide more flexibility for employers under the 2022 ESS, the actual subsidy amount and committed employee headcount are calculated based on employers’ chosen subsidised headcount. The 2020 ESS records or the records as at the fourth quarter of 2021 (2021 Q4 records) only serve as the cap for employers’ chosen subsidised headcount. Therefore, for applicants who were granted 2020 ESS subsidy and expect the number of employees during the subsidy period will be less, we suggest these applicants choosing the 2020 ESS records as the basis for calculating the cap. This is because the 2020 ESS records can provide enough subsidy headcount while having the advantages of shortening the vetting procedure and enabling faster payment,” the Government spokesman said.
Before filling out the online application form, applicants are advised to have the information and documents required ready and read the terms and conditions to ensure that the information to be submitted is complete and meets the vetting requirements. Applicants may refer to the 2022 ESS website (www.ess.gov.hk/en/) to understand more about the eligibility criteria and information required.
Enquiries can be made through the hotline at 183 6122 or live chat function at the 2022 ESS website or by email to enquiry@ess.gov.hk.
If applicants need assistance in person, they may schedule an appointment through the hotline (183 6122) and visit one of the five service centres.
Addresses of the service centres are as follows (appointments must be made through the hotline first):
Room 1501, AT Tower, 180 Electric Road, North Point
Suite 1004, Kwun Tong View, 410 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong
Suite 601-2, 9 Wing Hong Street, Cheung Sha Wan
Suite 2310, Metropole Square, 2 On Yiu Street, Shek Mun, Shatin
Units 3301-3303, 33/F The Octagon, 6 Sha Tsui Rd, Tsuen Wan
Service hours of the service centres:
During application period (April 29 to May 12): 9am to 6pm
Apr 23, 2022 | International
April 22, 2022 –Winnipeg, Manitoba– The Honourable Jim Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, on behalf of The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, will hold a virtual press conference to make an announcement regarding funding for a Winnipeg community centre.
Following remarks, MP Carr will be available to answer questions from the media.
Date:
Monday, April 25, 2022
Time:
11:30 a.m.
Location:
Zoom | Click here to register
Please note: your name and media outlet are required on your screen
Apr 9, 2022 | International
Support for the self-employed/freelance film practitioners under sixth round of AEF
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The Self-employed/Freelance Film Practitioners Subsidy Scheme under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) will provide a one-off financial assistance of $10,000 to each eligible applicant whose main occupation is a self-employed/freelance film practitioner.
“The pandemic and various social distancing measures have seriously affected normal film productions. Film practitioners, in particular those self-employed and freelancers, are hard hit. The financial assistance will help practitioners whose main occupations are self-employed/freelancers with the film industry tide over this challenging period and assist the sector to retain talent.” a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said.
CEDB has partnered with the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers (FHKF) to process applications and disburse subsidies. The Scheme will provide financial assistance to eligible self-employed/freelance film practitioners who have participated in the production of at least one Hong Kong film in the past two years, i.e. from April 2020 to March 2022. Full-time staff employed by film companies, full-time students and those who have benefitted from any other subsidy schemes under the sixth round of AEF are not eligible for the Scheme.
Self-employed/freelance film practitioners may send their applications to FHKF from April 12 until May 3. For scheme details and application form, please visit FHKF’s website (www.hkfilmmakers.com.hk).
