B.C. retail workers left out of wage subsidy

VANCOUVER — The Retail Council of Canada is speaking out for essential retail workers in B.C. who are not eligible for pandemic wage subsidies. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the top-up for essential workers early last month, but left implementation policies up to the provinces. In B.C., only health care, corrections and social services workers are included in the plan. “We were very disappointed, especially after the prime minister specified grocery and pharmacy workers,” said Greg Wilson, the council’s director of government relations. According to the province, the lump-sum subsidy is equivalent to an extra $4 per hour for up to 16 weeks of work, retroactive to March 15.