October 06, 2008
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Premier Gordon Campbell checks out the demolished toll booth after he and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon knocked it down on October 2, 2008.

Demolition Begins on Coquihalla Toll Plaza

Following Premier Gordon Campbell's announcement that the Coquihalla Highway is now toll-free for drivers, demolition has begun on the toll booths.

  • After the booths are removed, portions of the road will need to be paved and marked.
  • Where possible, materials from the toll booths will be recycled or reused.

Click for more information.

Further $25m Dedicated to Rural Clean Energy Projects

The Province will provide a further $25 million to develop innovative, clean energy projects in British Columbia’s rural communities through the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund.

  • This second round of ICE Fund projects will see approximately $25 million in funding to address specific B.C. energy and environmental priorities, as well as accelerating the commercialization of clean energy technologies.

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Safe, Secure Communities Focus of B.C.-Alberta Meeting

An agreement that will see B.C. and Alberta co-operate to enhance community safety and team up to tackle gang crime and repeat offenders was one of the highlights of the sixth British Columbia-Alberta joint cabinet meeting.

  • The agreement also includes developing a joint missing persons’ database and sharing best practices to aid victims of crime.
  • British Columbia and Alberta also agreed to pursue new joint measures to advance direct and competitive air access to international markets and raise the region’s profile as a destination for skilled foreign workers.

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Tuesday October 7th

Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell will be a guest on CHNL’s Jim Harrison Show at 11:30am to discuss the 2008 fire season.

Wednesday, October 8th

From Employment Standards Branch Gagan Dhaliwal will be a guest on RED FM at 7:00pm to 9:00pm to discuss employees and employers on their rights under the Employment Standards Act.

Quotes This Week

“Well I think it’s very good news, obviously, for Kamloops and for the entire interior of the province. You know whether you’re in Barrier, Clearwater, Chase, this is good news. It will increase tourism potential, decrease the cost of transportation. So I think anyone in the interior will be celebrating today with the ending of the tolls.”
Terry Lake, Kamloops Mayor. CKNW, September 26, 2008, on the tolls being removed from the Coquihalla.

"What the report shows is that there is the potential for this investment to provide up to $300 million a year in revenues to government, which is a pretty amazing return on investment."
Pierre Gratton, BC Mining Association President. Vancouver Sun, September 27, 2008, on Highway 37 electrification.

"We have the potential to create more than 10,000 jobs in a region where unemployment is high. Electricity can spur economic development through mining, tourism, clean power, transportation and supply industries in the northwest."
Janine North, CEO Northern Development Initiative Trust. Opinion 250, September 26, 2008, on Highway 37 electrification.


Did You Know?

  • The Province is proclaiming October 2008 as Library Month in British Columbia. More than 98 per cent of British Columbians live in an area that is served by a public library, and this year’s theme for Library Month – “Your Library, Your World” – reflects the many ways in which libraries contribute to the fabric of B.C.’s education, culture and community.
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  • A new national health survey shows British Columbia has the lowest self-reported obesity rates in 10 years, along with the lowest rates among provinces in Canada.
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  • October is small business month in British Columbia. British Columbia has about 379,700 businesses and 95% of these are classified as small businesses.
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