B.C. Finance Minister Carole James expects to lay out the extent of the COVID-19 impact on the province91裸聊视频檚 economy this week, but how she will deploy a $1.5 billion relief fund will likely have to wait until August.

James is preparing to provide an update on the coronavirus pandemic91裸聊视频檚 effects on B.C. July 14. It will set out the progress of the province91裸聊视频檚 relief efforts for individuals and businesses, and include a range of financial forecasts about what the future holds for the B.C. economy.

But the $1.5 billion in borrowed money held in reserve for a recovery plan will not be finalized until after a six-week public consultation that runs until July 21, with analysis after that.

91裸聊视频淵es, we will have additional measures that will come later, after our consultation occurs,91裸聊视频� James told reporters at the B.C. legislature July 13.

Many of the government91裸聊视频檚 measures are already in place, such as tax payment deferrals and reduced business school tax, plus the gradual lifting of pandemic restrictions on business and public activities. With the $1.5 billion recovery fund left from the $5 billion emergency appropriation voted by MLAs, the cost will be enormous.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e tabled legislation that says for the next three years we will not balance the budget. We will in fact have deficits,91裸聊视频� James said. 91裸聊视频淏ut each and every year that91裸聊视频檚 going to have to be looked at. We91裸聊视频檙e going to have to see where the economic recovery is occurring. I91裸聊视频檓 afraid it91裸聊视频檚 a challenging time, and you91裸聊视频檒l see that in some of the statistics tomorrow, when it comes to economic forecasters who have a wide range of what they anticipate could be coming, because of the uncertainty that91裸聊视频檚 there for, not British Columbia but in fact for Canada and the world.91裸聊视频�

B.C. Liberal MLAs have called for faster action, and leader Andrew Wilkinson has sent a series of letters to Premier John Horgan with possible ways to use the relief money. Among those was declaring a sales tax holiday for struggling businesses, rather than just allowing them to defer sending in the sales tax they collect on transactions.

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