Province Establishes Four New Universities
Premier Gordon Campbell and Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell announced this week that the Province will establish four new universities throughout British Columbia, allowing more British Columbians to pursue university degrees close to home.
- Malaspina University-College will become a university, to be called Vancouver Island University (VIU).
- The University College of the Fraser Valley will become a university, to be called the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).
- Kwantlen University College will become a university, to be called Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
- Capilano College will become a university, to be called Capilano University (CU).
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WelcomeBC Doubles Funding for English language Training
British Columbia has doubled funding for basic English language training services for immigrant adults from $15.6 million in 2005/06 to $32.5 million in 2008/09. The announcement was made this week by Attorney General and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism Wally Oppal, Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell and Education Minister Shirley Bond to celebrate English as an Additional Language Awareness Week.
- British Columbia has received more than 200,000 immigrants over the past five years.
- Waitlists for English language services for immigrant adults (ELSA) have been significantly reduced due to the expansion of training.
- WelcomeBC has expanded immigrant-oriented adult English language and support services for immigrants by more than $34 million since 2005/06.
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B.C. Earmarks $9 Million for Land Conservation
In celebration of Earth Day, Premier Gordon Campbell and Environment Minister Barry Penner announced that the B.C. Government is creating a $9 million endowment fund for land conservation groups. This one-time funding will create an environmental legacy for future generations.
- The funds will be administered by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), a non-profit organization with a mission to invest in projects that maintain and enhance the health and biological diversity of British Columbia’s fish, wildlife and habitats so that people can use, enjoy and benefit from these resources.
- The B.C. government has designated 23 wildlife management areas (covering 232,000 hectares) and has acquired administration and management of an additional 240 sites for fish and wildlife conservation purposes.
- The Province will also introduce legislation this spring to create 11 new Class A provincial parks and more than double the number of conservancies in the province.
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