Noon News Update for April 30, 2020

A popular past time, tubing on the Cowichan River, will not be allowed this summer. The town council has banned The Tube Shack from operating in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. Two popular music festivals have announced they will not take place either. The Sunfest Country Music Festival and the Laketown Shakedown say they could not meet COVID-19 safety requirements.The Nanaimo Arts Council is putting out an urgent call for people to get involved. The NAC has suffered several blows over the past year, including not getting a BC Gaming grant, which had provided a quarter of its budget. The group closed its office and gallery last year. Its executive director resigned and part-time staff was laid off. Infighting among board members meant only three remain. NAC president says the organization needs leadership, stability and ideas. Margie Johnson says there are opportunities for grants for online classes and workshops, but a committed board of directors is needed. She says if people do not step forward, "the Nanaimo Arts Council will cease to exist at a time when it is needed the most." If you'd like to volunteer, send an email to [email protected] Regional District taxpayers will get a break, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those receiving water, sewage and garbage utility bills this month will not have to pay them until September the 8th. The city of Nanaimo will decide whether to do the same at upcoming council meetings on May the 4th and May the 11th. Nanaimo residents on the Property Tax Pre-Payment plan who want to cancel their May and June payments must make that request in writing to the city before May the 8th. You can send you email request to [email protected] province is hoping to help logging companies stay afloat during the pandemic, by offering a deferral of stumpage fees. License holders will be allowed to defer the fee they pay the province to harvest, buy or sell trees on Crown land for three months. The Minister of Forests says the companies were already struggling with lower prices. Doug Donaldson says the COVID-19 pandemic added to the problem as housing starts plummeted in the United States. Donaldson expects the deferral will give companies $80 million worth of cash flow so they can pay employees and contractors. He says the plan is not a subsidy because companies will be charged interest on their deferrals. Written and reported by Lisa Cordasco. Senior Reporter and News Director for CHLY 101.7FM.Have a tip? Email: [email protected]: @lisacordasco / @chly1017FMFunded in by the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada through Heritage Canada in partnership with the Community Radio Fund of Canada.