Capital Report~November 7, 2008
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Premier Gordon Campbell and Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett plant some of the final vegetation on the Vancouver Convention Centre's 'green' living roof - the largest of its kind in Canada.

Convention Centre Reaches Construction Milestone

A rooftop planting marked a construction milestone today at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

  • The living roof measures 2.5 hectares – the size of 15 hockey rinks, with more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses, from 19 Northwest species.
  • The Vancouver Convention Centre is the only convention centre to be a repeat winner of the prestigious International Association of Congress Centres’ award for “Best Convention Centre,” most recently this year.

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New Steps to Help Homeowners, Seniors & Rural Residents

Premier Gordon Campbell outlined several new measures that the Province will take to help B.C. homeowners, seniors and rural residents during these turbulent economic times.

  • Lock in the property assessment roll for one year to create certainty for homeowners, businesses and local governments.
  • A new, temporary property tax deferment program will allow people with at least 15 per cent equity in their home to defer their property tax payment for each of the next two years.
  • RRSP investments that are made with banks will be protected from creditors, just as they are protected now with insurance companies.
  • Premier Campbell will ask for a special national meeting on RRSPs and Registered Retirement Income Funds (RIFs) be convened to review and amend federal law so people are not forced to convert their RRSPs at age 71.

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B.C. Green Energy Companies Shine in Korea

A Province-led delegation of B.C.-based renewable energy companies were the “stars of the show” at ENTECH 2008, Korea’s premier environment and renewable energy technology trade show.

  • Korea is British Columbia’s fourth-largest trading partner with bi-lateral trade totalling approximately $4 billion in 2007.
  • The B.C. delegation at ENTECH included seven companies which was the largest non-Korean representative.

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Saturday, November 8

Forest and Range Minister Pat Bell will be a guest on CKNW’s Sean Leslie Show from 3:00pm to 3:10pm to discuss his upcoming trip to China.

Monday, November 17

Finance Minister Colin Hansen will be a guest on CFAX 1070 with Joe Easingwood from 8:15am to 8:45am to discuss the Caucus news release “James NDP Patently Dishonest on Taxes and Economic Plan.”

Quotes This Week

"Since the NDP policy document is clear that the party has no intention of eliminating the carbon tax and since the Danish model it offers as an example leads to dramatically higher taxes for individuals as compared to corporations, one wonders if the NDP should change its motto from ‘axe the tax’ to ‘tax to the max’."
Mark Jaccard. Asian Pacific Post, November 5, 2008.

"It has provided the best value for taxpayers' dollars, while supporting innovation and creativity in the creation of this new health facility. This is a significant step for the northwest and it demonstrates just what can be achieved by working together."
Tony Briglio, Northwest Regional Hospital District board chair. The Northern View, October 29, 2008. (Commenting on the New Haida Hospital and Health Facility)

"I think that it really gives people a sense of stability since assessments have risen over the last two or three years and soon things could be falling. Local governments know that they can depend on the fixed rate."
Terry Lake, Mayor of Kamloops. The Daily News, November 4, 2008. (Commenting on the Property Assessment Freeze)


Did You Know?

  • Every fall brings about the flu and, along with it, the immunization program that will help people stay healthy. The flu shot is offered free-of-charge to British Columbians considered in the higher-risk population.
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  • The Province will provide $10.4 million in funding to enable school districts around the province to purchase 86 new clean-diesel school buses. These cleaner-burning buses will reduce exhaust particulate emissions by 90 per cent.
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  • Over 120 youth representatives from across the province gathered at BCIT to discuss ways that young people can work together with the Province to build and encourage future jobs and opportunities in the green economy, the meeting was titled: Opportunities in the Green Economy: A Dialogue for Youth.
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