Capital Report ~ October 26, 2007
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Premier Gordon Campbell and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski sign a memorandum of understanding that commits B.C. and Oregon to work together to cap and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and collaborate on the innovation and implementation of clean technologies. October 23, 2007.

British Columbia Continues to Lead the Way to Greener Century

British Columbia this week continued to cement its role as one of the world's leaders in sustainable environmental management by extending the Province's formal agreements with both Manitoba and Oregon.

Among the measures agreed to this week are:
  • Promote collaboration on fuel cell technology and explore extending the Hydrogen Highway so that by 2010 a hydrogen-powered vehicle may be able to travel and refuel from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to California.
  • Design a multi-sector market-based mechanism through the Western Climate Initiative by the end of August 2008.
  • Promote the development and use of low-emitting vehicle technologies including plug-in hybrid and hydrogen technologies and through initiatives such as the Hydrogen Highway and hydrogen transit projects.

Click for more information.

Province Provides $2.5 Million to Help Every Child Play

The Province is investing $2.5 million in Let'€™s Play, a program in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation that will help create accessible or barrier-free play spaces throughout British Columbia.

  • Accessible or barrier-free play spaces give young children and their caregivers with physical disabilities the same opportunities for physical activity and social interaction as their peers.
  • Integrating equipment manufactured for use by children with disabilities with traditional play equipment can help make a play space inclusive.
  • Each year, the Province invests more than $4.3 billion on programs and services for people with disabilities.

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Nominations Open for Premier's Teaching Excellence Awards

Premier Gordon Campbell announced this week that the Province will begin accepting nominations for the first annual Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence.

  • The Province will recognize up to 20 outstanding B.C. teachers who have made exceptional contributions to benefit their school community and improve student achievement.
  • An awards selection committee chaired by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and made up of members of the education community will choose the finalists, with an awards event to be held in spring 2008.
  • Nominees must be currently teaching within B.C.'€™s K-12 public, independent or band school systems, must work directly with students and must have taught courses of study during the 2006-07 school year.

Click for more information.

Saturday, October 27th
Premier Gordon Campbell will be featured on Constituency Report from 11:00-11:30am and 8:00-8:30pm on Shaw Cable 11 in Victoria, Saltspring Island, Duncan and Cowichan Valley.
Attorney General Wally Oppal will join Roy Green on Corus Radio to discuss the Surrey-Whalley shootings from 1:00-1:15pm.
Solicitor General John Les will join Sean Leslie on CKNW to discuss tougher penalties for multiple murders from 4:20-4:35pm.

Tuesday, October 30th
Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon will be featured on Constituency Report from 4:30-5:00pm on Shaw Cable 4 in Nanaimo.

Thursday, November 1st
Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon will be featured on Constituency Report from 9:00-9:30pm on Shaw Cable 4 in Nanaimo.

Friday, November 2nd
Premier Gordon Campbell will be featured on Constituency Report from 3:00-3:30pm on Shaw TV in Kamloops.

Quotes This Week

"We have a lot of growth. With all the hotel construction and the convention centre coming on board, it will enable Vancouver to secure conferences that we may not have been able to get in the past. The convention centre will put Vancouver on the map as a first-tier city for the larger events."
Brian Dahl, director of public relations, B.C. chapter of Meeting Professionals International. Vancouver Sun, October 20, 2007.

"I think it is fantastic for companies in B.C. to compete against much larger and well-financed neighbours in this industry and to grow as much as they have. The thing that strike me about all of these companies is their global reach. We should be proud that Vancouver has companies that compete with the U.S. and have far-flung operations."
Fraser Liptrot, partner, Deloitte, commenting on three B.C. tech companies being named among the 50 fastest growing in North America. Vancouver Sun, October 25, 2007.


Did You Know?
  • The Province announced this week that a national chair in Autism Intervention Research will be established at Simon Fraser University thanks to a $1-million provincial grant and a $1-million federal contribution.

  • British Columbia and South Korea businesses will have the opportunity to forge closer ties with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between B.C. and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).

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