Afternoon News Update for May 12 2020

📷 Seniors on OAS will see a one-time payment of up to $500 / via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

NANAIMO—Canada's poorest seniors will be getting a boost to their pensions, with a one-time payment of up to $500. The payment is to help offset extra costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those receiving federal Old Age Security will receive an extra $300, and those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement will get a further $200. Close to 10 million Canadian seniors will receive one or both of the payments. The extra amounts will be automatically added to benefit cheques, so seniors who qualify do not have to apply. The plan will cost $2 and a half-billion dollars.

The provincial government will spend $300,000 dollars to help farmers and other food and beverage producers in BC to market their products online. The pandemic has forced many small businesses to create or enhance online sales. The Buy BC program will provide up to $5,000 per applicant, to access and develop websites for online sales and cover the costs of marketing and shipping products to consumers throughout the province. Applicants must have at least two years of business revenues, be licensed to do business in B.C. and be growing or processing one or more products here. Applications will open on Friday and will continue on a first come first served basis until all of the money is allocated. For more information, google "Buy BC Partnership Program" and follow the link.

The City of Nanaimo is putting old tires to good use with a grant from Tire Stewardship BC. It will use a $28,000 dollar grant for rubber safety resurfacing at the Maffeo-Sutton Park playground. Snuneymuxw artist Noel Brown will use coloured recycled tire rubber to tell a story that will create imaginary play spaces for children. Phase one of the playground's redevelopment should be completed by late spring or early summer.

The road to reconciliation for a Cowichan first nation will include the purchase of Crofton Corners and Chemainus River Storage. The Halalt first nation has acquired the land and businesses and residential complex, worth $2.16 million dollars, under what's called an "Incremental Treaty Agreement." It's the latest in a series of similar agreements with first nations in the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group to be completed in the past six months. In January, the Penelakut first nation acquired the former 49th Parallel General Store in Chemainus. Last October, the Cowichan Tribes acquired the 153-hectare Genoa Bay Farm property.

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Lisa Cordasco

Senior Reporter and News Director — Lisa is responsible for creating the station's first morning news current affairs show on CHLY. She is also deeply involved in training and mentoring student and citizen journalists who volunteer their time at the station. Before joining CHLY, Lisa spent 35 years in various roles at CBC Radio, from host to reporter. Her passion for journalism and radio has led her to Nanaimo, where she intends to provide CHLY listeners with news they can use, in an alternative radio environment. Her other not-so-secret passion is costuming for any occasion.

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