The BC government has introduced legislation to provide a pandemic recovery benefit of one thousand dollars for eligible families and 500-dollars for individuals.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the cost of the COVID-19 aid program is about 1.7 billion dollars, including 150 dollars a month in increases to income and disability assistance starting in January.
Robinson says about 3.7 million people will receive the one-time pandemic benefit and can start applying on December 18th.
She says she expects some people will receive it before Christmas, while others will get the money deposited into their accounts by the end of the month.