N.B. Chambers Of Commerce Launch Recovery Guide For Businesses
May 6, 2020
by Inda Intiar
MONCTON— The chambers of commerce of Greater Saint John, Greater Moncton and Fredericton have teamed up to launch a re-opening and recovery guide for businesses and organizations. The guide is available in both official languages.
“The content of the guide is meant to be provincial in scope, so it doesn’t matter if you’re operating a business in Shediac or Caraquet or Moncton, all these rules will apply,” said the Moncton chamber CEO John Wishart. “We really wanted to consolidate a lot of information that we’ve seen out there from the last week or so from different government departments like Public Health, Public Safety, WorkSafe, ONB.”
The guide provides details on requirements mandated by government including operational plans, Covid-19 signage, pre-screening tools, physical distancing, cleaning and disinfection procedures, personal hygiene etiquette, and personal protective equipment.
The guide also includes a link to J.D. Irving, Ltd.’s Covid-19 workplan.
While the guide is meant to serve as a general base for businesses, it also includes any sector-specific guidance that’s available. Wishart said more information will be added as it comes out.
“What our members need is one comprehensive guide, and they need it fast because if we’re opening, say, in the next week, you need to make some decisions and some purchases,” he said.
The three chambers have distributed the guide to their members, as well as Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, New Brunswick Business Council, Conseil Economique du Nouvoeau Brunswick, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and others.
“We’re offering this to any chamber of commerce in NB. I already sent it to a couple of friends in Shediac and Caraquet because we also developed the French language one, and I knew for them, getting those resources would be particularly important,” Wishart said.
The guide will also be advertised on social media. Companies and organizations don’t have to be a chamber member to access the guide.
The group effort stemmed from a call between business organizations and government, where they were asked for help to get the word out that businesses need an operational plan before they re-open.
While it used content from the government, the guide isn’t endorsed by the government.
“But we’ve shared it with government today, and we’ve seen some positive feedback,” Wishart said.
On Wednesday’s press briefing, Premier Blaine Higgs said he’s been “encouraging businesses for weeks to prepare for the new normal and re-opening.”
“We’re just days away from announcing that. In fact, it will be this week,” he said. “I’m asking you again to plan and prepare, determine how you can operate within the public guidelines of physical distancing, cleanliness and hand-washing.”
Wishart said it’s “crucial” that businesses start working on their operational plans as soon as possible.
“Just the fact that every business is going to need a written Covid-19 operational plan before they open might come as a surprise as a business owner. None of us has ever developed such a plan before, so it’s all new ground,” he said.
That’s why businesses need to figure out things like spacing between customers, traffic flow, cleaning of common areas, how to keep employees and customers safe, and protective equipment needs as soon as possible. The chamber plans to add a list of protective equipment suppliers to the guide before the end of the week.
Wishart said operational plans don’t have to be approved by the government prior to opening, but businesses need to have one in case there’s a spot check or the public lays a complaint about their operations.
https://huddle.today/n-b-chambers-of-commerce-launch-recovery-guide-for-businesses/
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N.B. Chambers Of Commerce Launch Recovery Guide For Businesses
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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Business Truth & Reconciliation
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is taking proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework. This entails a commitment to meaningful consultation, fostering respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before embarking on economic projects. Moreover, the Chamber advocates for equitable access to employment, training, and educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, ensuring they reap sustainable benefits from economic development initiatives.
Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.
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