Afternoon News Update for April 16, 2020

NANAIMO —The federal and provincial governments have announced more programs to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. An expanded Emergency Business Account means more small businesses will be eligible for $40,000 in guaranteed, interest-free loans. Now, companies with payrolls between $20,000 and $1 and a half million dollars will qualify. The Prime Minister says his government will also provide a business rental assistance program for April, May and June, but no details were announced. Justin Trudeau says he needs to work out the details with the provinces first. Meanwhile, the provincial government says it will help businesses by further reducing their school tax. BC's Minister of Finance says the change will result in an average 25% reduction in the total property tax bill for most businesses. Carole James says late business tax payment penalties have been deferred from July until October.

Municipalities that are struggling with reduced revenues will also get some relief. The province will allow local governments to borrow from their capital reserves, to pay for operating costs. Municipalities will also be allowed to carry debt into the next fiscal year. And, they will not have to pay their provincial tax bill until the end of December. The Minister responsible, Celina Robinson hopes the measures will allow municipalities to retain their employees. Last week, the City of Nanaimo announced 130 staff layoffs.

City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. 📷: Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The Mayor of Victoria is calling on the province to order hotel owners to allow vulnerable people to be housed in hotel rooms. Lisa Helps says although BC Housing has secured 200 hotel rooms for that purpose, in reality, hotel owners say they do not want people with mental health and addiction problems staying in them. BC Housing has been unable to secure even one space for that purpose in Nanaimo. Housing Minister Celina Robinson dodged the issue at her news conference this morning. She simply repeated the line that 1200 rooms have been secured around the province and BC Housing is continuing to work on securing more.

Finally, BC's Provincial Health Officer is about to become famous for her fashion style. Dr. Bonnie Henry is a fan of Fluevog shoes. She has several pairs, which she regularly dons at her news conferences. Now, the Vancouver-based shoe company has unveiled a new design, called the "Dr. Henry." The Mary Jane-style pumps will come in cherry pink and will be inscribed with Dr. Bonnie Henry's words "be kind, be calm and be safe." All of the pre-sale profits from the shoe will be donated to Food Banks B.C. Henry calls the collaboration "the most exciting thing in my whole life that's ever happened to me," No word yet on when the pre-sale will begin.

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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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