The third phase of recovery is where BC can truly take the reins of recovery. By leading with public investment, the province can create thousands of secure, family-supporting jobs addressing existing needs in our communities, expanding public services and supports, and bolstering the provincial labour force in case of future crises. The infusion of wealth into our communities will support local businesses and fuel the recovery of regional economies. This third phase is where we can move from being reactive to being proactive.
Worker health and safety
We recommend that the government:
- Move ahead with the implementation of worker-centred compensation reforms in the Workers' Compensation Act and Regulations.
Worker rights and protections
We recommend that the government:
- Remove existing statutory barriers to joining or forming a union by reinstating the one-step certification process.
- Improve worker protections including hours of work, overtime, paid vacation, etc.
- Ensure that precarious workers and gig workers are not excluded from Employment Standards protections by ending the misclassification of workers and strengthening the enforcement of ESA regulations to reduce employers' reliance on precarious and gig workers.
- Research and implement sectoral bargaining. Â Strike a single-issue commission to implement a made-in-BC multi-employer sectoral bargaining model.
- Establish a long-term strategy to provide all workers —  including casual and part-time workers — with access to paid sick leave.
Public services and supports
We recommend that the government:
- Complete bringing long-term seniors' care into the public health system, with private, for-profit facilities removed from the sector.
- Make high-speed internet access a universal right for all British Columbians.
- Develop a permanent, local manufacturing stream for essential goods including PPE, essential drugs, basic hygiene products, medical supplies, and essential foods.
- Expand primary health care reforms to ensure multi-disciplinary teams include health science professionals and skilled health workers, and expand the Community Health Centre model for delivery of primary care.
- Institute a provincial international student program in K-12 education to ensure equity among school districts and eliminate districts' reliance on international student tuition.
- Commission local artists to develop artistic works and performances across mediums and make them available to the public in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Supports for vulnerable populations
We recommend that the government:
- Build publicly owned social housing, acquire and refit hotels, and develop modular housing, with community benefit agreements established for all projects.
- Build public infrastructure to protect and support sex workers.
- Expand and stabilize food security networks.
- Make permanent the waiving of the three-month waiting period to access BC's Medical Services Plan.
- Work with the federal government to implement permanent residency upon arrival for all migrant workers including those without status.
Infrastructure projects
We recommend that the government:
- Expedite planned infrastructure projects including schools, hospitals, other government buildings, and transit.
- Revise building codes and standards, particularly in schools and hospitals, to allow for greater physical distancing.
- Acquire or build publicly owned and operated long-term and seniors' care facilities.
- Acquire or build publicly owned and operated childcare facilities.
- Invest in expanding apprenticeship and training program opportunities for women workers, Indigenous workers, and other groups underrepresented in the trades.
- Re-institute compulsory trades certification in BC.
- Include comprehensive climate-responsive and green-transition education in each respective trade.
- Expand transit-accessible and pedestrian-oriented community outdoor infrastructure and green spaces.
Addressing the climate emergency
We recommend that the government:
- Move ahead with the electrification of the transit fleet.
- Launch conservation programs and habitat restoration projects.
- Undertake remediation of industrial sites, similar to federal programs that have been launched to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells.
- Replace all government vehicles at end of life with e-vehicles and convert where possible.
- Develop and install zero-emission vehicle infrastructure throughout BC.
- Continue to expand public, commercial, and residential building retrofits.