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Rent forgiveness for hundreds of BC's outdoor recreation firms

Hundreds of businesses could benefit after the BC government announced it will forgive a year’s rent for certain outdoor enterprises.

Eligible fishing and hunting lodges, guest ranches, ecotourism lodges, seasonal campgrounds, outdoor adventure businesses and certain other recreation operators stand to save cash.

Commercial recreation operators with Land Act tenures and Park Act permits could qualify to have their annual base rent – which they pay to the government – waived for a year due to the COVID-19 crisis.

About $1.36 million has been earmarked for rent forgiveness by the government, potentially benefiting up to 592 Land Act tenure holders and 443 Park Act permit holders.

<who> Photo credit: 123RF

"We want to help people who own or run outdoor recreation companies, because they are important to rural economies and they've been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," Minister of Forests Doug Donaldson said.

"By offering rent relief, we hope that they can continue to contribute to the well-being of remote communities throughout British Columbia."

How it works (according to the BC government):

* This rent forgiveness is aimed at commercial recreation operators whose primary purpose is outdoor recreation activities, with ancillary uses related to transportation, accommodation or food and beverage.

* Eligible holders of commercial recreation tenures and park-use permits (under the Land Act and Park Act) will have one year of annual base rent (owed to the provincial government) waived for invoice due dates between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021.

* Tenure and permit holders who are eligible for rent forgiveness will receive a notification letter.

* Tenure holders and permit holders who pay Land Act or Park Act "client days" rent, with invoice dates between May 2020 and April 2021, will receive rent forgiveness for their base rent (eg, $500 for a licence of occupation), but not for client day rent. (Note: "client day" rent typically is $1 to $6 for each client participating in a guided adventure activity within a 24-hour period.)

* Although rent forgiveness will not apply to client day rent for guiding, an interest-free payment plan agreement is available to tenure holders for at least six months to help address the financial impacts of the pandemic. Tenure holders are encouraged to contact staff in their local ministry lands office for more information.

* Rent forgiveness does not apply to rent that is based on revenue sharing, such as:

* client days for guiding (tenures under Part B of the Adventure Tourism Policy)

* all-season/ski resorts (under the All-Season Resort Policy or the BC Parks Ski Resort Policy)



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