dave_j

I suppose this was entirely predictable...
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/25/polit...rus/index.html
If the virus doesn't get you your neighbour will....
or...
With the s**tstorm that's become the USA perhaps they're preparing to invade Canada...

scilly

It's much more common than you think!

It is one of the things we were warned about when we were looking for cottages to buy in the interior of BC. The warning was that any cleaning sweeping etc in any cottage, cabin, sheds etc should only be done while wearing a good mask and safety goggle, continually.spraying water over the floor as you sweep so no dust would rise, and having loads of fresh air coming in.

The hantavirus is in the droppings rats leave behind, and is viable for a long time. Disturbing those droppings allows the virus to spread through the air.

For that reason, when we did buy our cabin, we asked to seller if he could arrange to have the attic cleaned out. He wanted to sell it to us, so he agreed ............ it turned out not only to be be full of rat droppings, but a pack rat nest that he told us was about 12' long. It took 2 pick-up truck loads to get all the vegetation from that to the local dump (50 kms away).

We ourselves were always very careful when cleaning that cabin.

Literally everyone up there knew to take care when cleaning out an area that had not been occupied or cleaned for a long time.

dbd33

I'm glad to have lots of ammo. Y'all don't know when them city folk are gonna work out where eggs used to come from when there were supermarkets. Anyone coming on ma land in an Audi is gonna get it.

Oink

Not taking any chances.

Oink

Vancouver is taking draconian measures to protect children.

scrubbedexpat091

They finally got around to putting some info on the BC Housing website.

Full info as to rental housing with the announcement today straight from the government.

- The new temporary rent supplement will provide up to $500 per month, paid directly to landlords.
- Halting evictions by ensuring a landlord may not issue a new notice to end tenancy for any reason. However, in exceptional cases where it may be needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the property, landlords will be able to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for a hearing.
- Freezing new annual rent increases during the state of emergency. (rental increases this year was initially capped to 2.5%)
- Preventing landlords from accessing rental units without the consent of the tenant (for example, for showings or routine maintenance), except in exceptional cases where it is needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the unit.
- Restricting methods that renters and landlords can use to serve notices to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 (no personal service and allowing email).
- Allowing landlords to restrict the use of common areas by tenants or guests to protect against the transmission of COVID-19.

If this thing cools down by May, we may see about moving in with MIL, seems about the only viable option even though it would not be pleasent We are seeing if the landlord has any wiggle room for us, we can pay rent if we don't eat, but if we want food we can't continue paying rent in full. I never expected things to get this ugly this fast, and not sure there is anything I can do to fix it, stressful times we live in.

scrubbedexpat091

The BC rent supplement eligibility will be up within the next 1 to 2 days according to BC Housing.

Doubtful we will be eligible for it though.

We did notify our landlord we have placed a stop payment on the check for April as so far they have not been willing to work with us and we cant use 97% of income just on rent and not be able to access food and basic household needs.

Never thought it would be a virus that would lead to us losing everything.

Also thinking might be best to cancel renters insurance and just take the risk, seems fairly small risk overall in the big picture not to have it, there is no legal requirement to have it nor any requirement in the lease to have it.

CanadaJimmy

Evictions are officially suspended. Just refuse to leave. The landlord took on the risk with the housing investment and no investments are without risk.

Also check out the federal Emergency Benefit, you should try applying for it *April 6th. It should cover you if you don't qualify for EI. There's some discussion on it here: Claining upemployment benefit

scrubbedexpat091

It's the disability income that will likely mean not being eligible for the federal programs, but disability without supplemental income from working isn't enough. I haven't seen any mention of changing the rules around disability where they will allow people to get help from another government source, under the rules anything received from another government source is deducted from disability dollar for dollar, which is why EI for example isn't of use to those on disability if they lose their job, it doesn't provide any additional income as disability will deduct dollar the EI amount from disability. So say 1,000 in disability and $1,000 from working for 2,000 a month normally, and rent is 1,400 a month, now the person lost their job, so now living on 1,000 a month, they can apply for EI and say EI provides $400 a month, disability will deduct $400 from the 1,000 so now the person gets $600 from disability and $400 from EI for a net total of 1,000 so they still can't pay their rent.

It's impossible to find rentals for the amount provided to those on disability so just about everyone on disability not in subsidized housing has to pay all or most of their disability just on rent, and try and have supplemental income form working when they can. Rental amount provided for the disabled is $375 for a single and $570 for a couple, and well those are not realistic amounts in the current rental market.

I just don't have high hopes any of these programs will help those of us on disability who lost their employment or chance at employment in my case, I was just about to start a new job, within days when this all started, and then it was just delayed a few weeks so I still had hope, but now its been cancelled outright with no indication if/when it may happen in the future.

Yes for now we are safe from eviction but it will ruin our reference and eventually they will be able to evict us for not payment, the government isn't going to just let people not pay and keep that restriction in place forever and the second landlords can evict again they will all rush to evict anyone behind on their rent.

Maybe one of these federal programs will help but time will tell at this point.


https://globalnews.ca/news/6735937/c...grEINy9DRtCJO4

BC will ban the resell of certain things during the state of emergency, such as food, medical supplies, ppe and other essential equipment.

Municipal by-law officers will also be given the power to enforce public health orders by issuing fines or arresting.

scrubbedexpat091

More details on the new rules/enforcement in BC

• People who ignore public health orders can now be jailed or fined upward of $25,000. Bylaw officers have been given the power to fine and arrest those ignoring orders,
• Reselling essential supplies like food and cleaning material is now prohibited. Will face up to 1 year in jail or 10,000 fine or both.
• The province is intervening to ensure the supply of food and medical supplies is secure.
• Municipal states of emergency have been suspended.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ders-1.5510677

"co-ordinate the distribution of vital goods and services in the province. Retailers and suppliers must now report to the unit on inventory of critical supplies, including medical supplies for frontline workers. Bylaws that restrict the delivery of goods to certain times of the day are being suspended."

scrubbedexpat091

66 new cases in BC, total now 725.

66 in hospital, 26 in ICU

scrubbedexpat091

One of the patients in ICU in Vancouver is 67 and was a worker at the convention center where the dental conference was held. Sounds like he is in bad shape, and his family can't even visit.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ence-1.5509552

Why they let that conference go on, I will never understand.

MillieF

Because it was a conference, where hopefully the people attending will share their experiences and make our lives better.

After this they will all get into cars which go on to mow down thousands of us indiscriminately! It happens every day! It’s called life. On Monday, I popped out of my door to give some bread to the squirrels, upturned myself on my own front step and ended up in a bad way...but, life happens, we cannot plan, or hope for our outcomes...we can just hope for the very best

scrubbedexpat091

Well the conference made the lives of some far worse for some, hopefully none of the patients of these dentists caught it from their dentist who attended the conference.

scrubbedexpat091

Harbour Air is suspending scheduled flights for the time being, charters will still be available. They are hoping to resume scheduled service May 4th.

https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/03...ting-covid-19/

Delta Airlines is suspending most service to Canada.