Capital Report ~ September 7, 2007
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Every move is a good move! Education Minister Shirley Bond and ActNow BC Minister of State Gordon Hogg stretch with students from Waverley Elementary School. The provincial government will require 30 minutes of physical activity for students by September 2008. September 4, 2007.

 

B.C. Sets National Standard in Promoting Student Health

The Province will require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for students and is also fast-tracking the removal of junk food in schools with Canada's most aggressive initiative yet to fight obesity in children and youth, announced Education Minister Shirley Bond and ActNow BC Minister Gordon Hogg.

  • By removing junk food and mandating physical activity for all K-12 students, British Columbia will have the highest school health standards in Canada to address the issue of childhood obesity.
  • Revised Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in B.C. Schools that mandate no sales of foods in the "not recommended" and "choose least" categories for elementary schools by January 2008 and for middle and secondary schools by September 2008.
  • Currently one in four children in B.C. are obese. These changes will help to create a culture of health for B.C. children.

Click for more information.

 

 


All Adult Basic Education to be Tuition-Free in B.C.

The Province is investing $17.5 million under the second phase of ReadNow BC to make adult basic education tuition-free for all students and increase financial aid for adult learners, announced Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell and Education Minister Shirley Bond.

  • Effective immediately, all students can take courses free of charge through the Province's virtual school, LearnNowBC, at www.LearnNowBC.ca.
  • Starting January 2008, all students will also have access to tuition-free adult basic education courses at 18 public post-secondary institutions around B.C.
  • The B.C. Government will add $10 million to its annual adult basic education plus $1.5 million for LearnNow BC.

Click for more information.

 

 


Loan Program Expanded to Meet Trades Training Demand

In order to help meet the growing demand for trades training, the B.C. student loan forgiveness program has been expanded to include technology education teachers, announced Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell.

  • Students who graduate on or after July 1, 2007 as technical education teachers are eligible for the loan forgiveness program. Their B.C. student loan debts will be reduced by one third for each of the three years they work in a high demand area of the province.
  • Technology education teachers work in school districts across the province, delivering Industry Training Authority trades programs such as auto repair, welding, carpentry and electrical.
  • Since the loan forgiveness program started in 2001, 12 professions have been included in fields such as medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

 

 

Click for more information.

Saturday, September 8
Attorney General Wally Oppal will be a guest on the Christy Clark Show on CKNW from 3:00-3:30pm to discuss the multiple-murder in Oak Bay.

Wednesday, September 12
ActNow BC Minister of State Gordon Hogg will be a guest on the Christy Clark Show on CKNW from 12:30-1:00pm to discuss the expansion of the Fruit and Vegetable Snack program.

Thursday, September 13
Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell will be a guest on the Harjinder Thind Show on Red FM from 8:30-8:40am to discuss post secondary back-to-school issues, tuition free adult basic education and trade school opportunities.

Finance Minister Carole Tayor will be a guest on BC Almanac on CBC Radio from 1:00-1:30pm to discuss the upcoming budget consultation process.

Quotes This Week

“It's been quite a while - nearly a generation - since British Columbia has enjoyed a comparable period of economic expansion. In 2006, British Columbia's economy outperformed the national average for the fifth straight year. Employment growth in BC outpaces every province except Alberta. Not only do more British Columbians have jobs, gains in real personal disposable income have been healthy in the past few years."
Brett Gartner of the Canada West Foundation discussing BC's booming economy. Let the Good Times Roll: British Columbia Economic Profile and Forecast, September 6, 2007.

“We’ve seen sales near record levels for three consecutive months despite the summer traditionally being a slower time for real estate in Greater Vancouver.”
Brian Naphtali, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver President, commenting on the strong real estate market. Vancouver Sun, September 6, 2007.


Did You Know?
  • There were 433,000 students enrolled in B.C. public post-secondary institutions in 2006-07. This year’s enrolment is another record high.

  • British Columbia’s universities have the fourth lowest tuition in Canada.

  • The B.C. Government has invested $1.2 billion in capital expansions at post-secondary institutions since 2001.
    © 2007 Government Caucus of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved.