Death in Cowichan Tribes from COVID-19 outbreak

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Tuesday COVID-19 update

There has been another death, related to COVID-19 in the Island Health region. It's the second death reported in our region this week. The Cowichan Tribes is reporting one of those deaths is related to its outbreak. Province-wide, there have been 14 more deaths related to COVID-19 over the past 24 hours. The BC Center for Disease Control is reporting 22 new cases in our region, and 407 new cases across the province.

ICBC rates tool released

A new online tool will allow ICBC customers to calculate how much they will save the next time they renew their auto insurance. Customers can also view and adjust coverage options. The Minister responsible, Mike Farnworth used the announcement to repeat the government's message that the average auto insurance premium will decrease by $400 dollars.

"The biggest decrease in basic insurance rates in 40 years and a large decrease in optional liability rates aren't the only great things ahead, which you can now see for yourself with this estimator tool. We're making affordability and caring for people a priority and more than ever, ICBC's going to reflect that, going forward."
—Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

Farnworth is also promising a COVID-19 rebate will be announced very soon. ICBC plans to base the rebate on how much it saved in costs due to the fact there were fewer drivers on the road and fewer accidents during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the new online tool can be found at icbc.com/enhancedcare.

Seawall fight wraps up with a win for Islands Trust

A fight over a seawall on Mudge Island has ended eight years later, with a ruling by the BC Court of Appeal. The court has ruled the Islands Trust has the right to create land-use zoning bylaws that may affect the rights of landowners to use or protect their property. The case went to court after the Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee ordered a landowner to remove a deck, fencing and seawall because they were non-conforming structures. The BC Supreme Court said the local trust committee bylaws applied to all but the seawall. Last week, the Court of Appeal overturned that decision, ruling the bylaws apply to seawalls as well. The Chair of the Islands Trust Council, Peter Luckham, says the ruling is important both locally and province-wide.

"It's significant because of our mandate, which is to preserve and protect the Islands Trust area, which includes over 1200 kilometres of shoreline and so this decision has asserted that we do have that jurisdiction and it affects every coastline in British Columbia."
—Peter Luckham, Chair of the Islands Trust Council.

Luckham says there are many soft shore protection designs that reduce erosion and preserve the natural shoreline. Owners can get more information through the Island Trust's document entitled "Landowner's Guide to Protecting Shoreline Ecosystems."