Capital Report~March 16, 2007
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Premier Gordon Campbell joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper to view a hydrogen fuel cell car in Vancouver, where the Prime Minister announced B.C. will receive $199.3 million from the federal government's new Canada ecoTrust fund to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  March 13, 2007.

British Columbia Welcomes Federal Help to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

B.C. will receive $199.3 million as part of a new Canada ecoTrust to support provincial projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced this week with Premier Gordon Campbell.

  • B.C.’s funding under the Canada ecoTrust is intended to support projects consistent with the province’s plan to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent from current levels by 2020, roughly 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide or equivalent below current levels.
  • The government of British Columbia has indicated that it will use the Canada ecoTrust funding to move forward on several provincial projects, which may include support for the development of a “hydrogen highway,” and support for new geothermal and bioenergy projects.
  • The Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change is intended to allow each province and territory to develop technology, energy efficiency and other projects that will provide real results.

Click for more information.

Districts Get More Funding While Enrolment Declines

Despite declining enrolment, B.C. School Districts will receive an additional $116 million in operating funding for the 2007-08 school year, announced Education Minister Shirley Bond.

  • The average per pupil grant will increase by $336 to approximately $7,932.  This is the seventh consecutive year that per pupil funding has increased in British Columbia.
  • Small and rural schools are expected to see an increase of $6.5 million in funding from the B.C. Government.
  • Funding for English as a Second Language (ESL) students is expected to increase by $3.8 million while funding for Aboriginal students is also expected to rise by $3 million.

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New Legislation to Improve Public Safety, Support Communities

  • The new Security Services Act ensures that bouncers, bodyguards, armoured car personnel and the Corps of Commissionaires will be regulated and require licensing.
  • The Community Services Statutes Amendment Act 2007 will provide funding to support local tourism development through the new Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing Program, as well as streamline other government procedures.
  • The Financial Statutes Amendment Act 2007 provides added protection for consumers in British Columbia's real estate market, improvements for co-operatives and other measures to help attract business investment.

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Sunday, March 18
Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman appears on Constituency Report on Shaw Cable 4 from 8:00-8:30am and 5:00-5:30pm.

Sunday, March 18
Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen joins Sean Leslie on CKNW from 4:30-4:50pm.

Wednesday, March 21
Shuswap MLA George Abbott appears on Constituency Report on Sun Country Cable 49 from 10:00-10:30am, 3:00-3:30pm and 7:00-7:30pm.

Thursday, March 22
Shuswap MLA George Abbott appears on Constituency Report on Sun Country Cable 49 from 10:00-10:30am, 3:00-3:30pm and 7:00-7:30pm.

 

Quotes This Week

"Wage increases are accelerating.  It's still not rampant but certainly the trend is to generally greater increases in wages."
Helmut Pastrick, Chief Economist with the Credit Union Central of B.C. Vancouver Sun, March 10, 2007.

“The strength of the construction industry is contributing significantly to job and income growth in the region.  With the outlook for 2007 and 2008 looking positive, especially in the non-residential sector, we expect to see the industry continue to grow.”
Keith Sashaw, Vancouver Regional Construction Association President. Langley Times, March 11, 2007.


 


Did You Know?
  • 97.1 per cent of oncology patients in B.C. rate the quality of their overall care as good, very good or excellent.

  • The B.C. Government will now refund the provincial sales tax on purchases of medical equipment funded by charitable groups.

  • The Industry Training Authority's new $1.5-million mobile training facility was unveiled this week before departing for two years of trades awareness and training programs in northern B.C.


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