British Columbia Producing Record Number of Nurses
British Columbia has nearly doubled the number of nurse education spaces in the province, producing a record number of graduates who have received close to 13,000 nursing degrees, diplomas and certificates since 2001.
- The Province has funded 3,786 new spaces since 2001, an increase of 93 per cent, including another 439 spaces announced in Budget 2008.
- 23 new nursing programs have been created since 2001, bringing the total number of nursing programs in the province to 56.
- Through the loan forgiveness program, nursing graduates who agree to work in underserved communities in British Columbia for three years will have all of their B.C. student loans forgiven.
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B.C. Commits $4.3 Million for Malahat Commuter Service
The Province is committing $4.3 million towards a new Malahat commuter bus service between the Cowichan Valley and downtown Victoria as part of the Province’s $14-billion Provincial Transit Plan.
- The Province has committed to funding 100 per cent of the cost of the eight new buses for the service, a total cost of $4 million, as well as $362,000 each year for operating expenses.
- The B.C. Transit Plan aims to double ridership by 2020 by increasing choices for travelers.
- The commuter service will run from Duncan and Shawnigan Lake to Victoria every weekday morning and return each evening. Both routes will have three round trips each day.
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2,200 New Child Care Spaces Across B.C.
Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced this week that the Province has exceeded its target of creating 2,000 new licensed child care spaces throughout British Columbia.
- Over the next two years, more than 2,200 additional licensed spaces are expected to open to serve B.C. families.
- A total of 114 new child care projects in 60 B.C. communities have received funding to assist with the costs of building new facilities, renovating leased buildings or expanding existing centres.
- All of the projects were made possible through community-based partnerships – many that will create child care and family service hubs and make use of vacant public spaces such as school classrooms and municipal buildings.
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