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Setting the foundation for decades of renewed economic growth, protecting vital services, adding to British Columbia’s competitiveness and building on the tremendous momentum of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are core elements of the 2010 provincial budget tabled in the B.C. Legislature today by Finance Minister Colin Hansen.

“We are enhancing support for B.C.’s families, meeting our financial targets, maintaining our commitments to health and education, and we are on track to return to balanced budgets in 2013,” said Hansen. “Recognizing the many opportunities resulting from the global exposure provided by the Olympics, we are also furthering our investments in areas such as clean energy, arts and culture and international commerce while ensuring future job growth across B.C.”

Prime Minister, Premier Announce 15 New Projects (highway, bridge, road upgrades to enhance safety, create jobs)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Gordon Campbell today announced support for fifteen new infrastructure projects across British Columbia. Provided for by investments from both the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, these projects will improve highways, local roads and bridges throughout the province, resulting in safer travel for residents and visitors alike.

 

Progress made, but much still to be done before British Columbians enjoy the benefits of electronic health records.

The government has made progress on its electronic health records (EHR) system, but there is still a long way to go before the system is fully in place, says Auditor General John Doyle in his latest report, Electronic Health Record Implementation in British Columbia.

An EHR is a secure and private record of an individual’s health history and care, intended to be collected over a person’s lifetime. The development of an EHR system has been supported by the federal government since 2001, and B.C. committed to accelerating its EHR development in 2004.

BC Liquor Store customers and staff have generously donated over $345,000 to help support Canadian Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

Between January 19 and February 12, 2010, all 197 BC Liquor Stores across British Columbia accepted voluntary donations in denominations of $2.00, $5.00 or multiples thereof. The entire sum was sent to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Fund.

The Canadian Red Cross support efforts in Haiti include providing medical support, clean water, food and shelter to provide relief following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake the struck off the western coast of Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. This is the fourth time that BC Liquor Stores have collected donations from customers and staff for the Canadian Red Cross Society. The three previous disaster relief campaigns were BC Wildfires (2003), Tsunami (2004-05) and Hurricane Katrina (2005).

Premier Gordon Campbell issued the following statement today on the death of Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili today in Whistler: 

“On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the people of Georgia and to the family and teammates of Nodar Kumaritashvili in the wake of this terrible accident. 

The Province is moving the operations and management of the British Columbia Railway Company (BCRC) into the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, reducing administrative costs and ensuring maximum value for taxpayer dollars, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced.

The Ministry of Health Services has launched a consultation with stakeholders to determine the best model to deliver ambulance services in British Columbia.

The consultation follows the release of a report from industrial inquiry commissioner Chris Trumpy, who was appointed by Minister of Labour Murray Coell to come up with options to improve service delivery and the structure of collective bargaining for the Emergency and Health Services Commission and the union representing paramedics, CUPE Local 873.

 

The Facilities Bargaining Association, representing over 47,000 health-care workers, has reached a tentative agreement on a two-year contract with the Health Employers Association of B.C., Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today. 

The agreement covers about 270 different jobs in every area of health care, including nursing, health records, information technology, logistics and supply, diagnostic testing, pharmacy, trades and maintenance, dietary, housekeeping, payroll and more. 

The Province released details today of its 2010 Olympic and Paralympic business hosting strategy, which will feature dozens of events and outreach opportunities to promote British Columbia’s core industries, diverse regions and communities, and investment and job-creation potential throughout the province, Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and Mary McNeil, Minister of State for the Olympics, said today.

A proposed new tax credit for digital media, combined with changes to provincial film tax credits, recognizes the convergence of these sectors and supports the continued growth, development and competitiveness of B.C.’s video game and film sectors and the related employment they provide, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today.