Capital Report~January 30, 2009
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Premier Gordon Campbell, Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Randy Hawes and Health Services Minister George Abbott at the opening of the Ridge Meadows Emergency Room and Ambulatory Care Centre on Thursday January 29, 2009.

New ER and Patient Care Centre Opens in Maple Ridge

Premier Gordon Campbell and Health Services Minister George Abbott officially opened a new, expanded emergency department and outpatient care centre at Ridge Meadows Hospital (RMH) that will provide Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents with quality care for years to come.

  • The new emergency department and patient care centre at RMH is part of the overall strategy to build capacity throughout Fraser Health, improving access for patients and ensuring sustainability.
  • In 2007/2008, there were 26,334 visits to the emergency room. The new emergency department is designed to meet the needs of a projected 41,000 visits per year by 2015.

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Province Acquires 15 Properties to Expand Housing

The Province is providing $20 million across British Columbia as an economic investment in local transportation projects, with the Northwest receiving $2.75 million to put people to work immediately.

  • This investment will acquire 15 properties, located in 10 communities, which will provide over 600 units of housing with integrated support services.
  • The mix of properties includes single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels, apartments, former care facilities and a therapeutic community.
  • Through Housing Matters BC, Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $400 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.

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B.C. Regions Share $20m for Immediate Jobs Program

The Province is providing $20 million across British Columbia as an economic investment in local transportation projects, with the Northwest receiving $2.75 million to put people to work immediately.

  • This program will generate hundreds of short-term local jobs across the province.
  • This economic and infrastructure investment program supports the provincial strategy to provide significant investments for B.C.’s infrastructure by creating real jobs that will instill confidence in our provincial economy.

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Monday February 2

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell will be a guest host on CFIS FM 93.1 from 9 to 10am.

Tuesday February 3

Education Minister Shirley Bond will be a guest host on CFIS FM 93.1 from 9 to 10am.

Friday February 6

Premier Gordon Campbell will be a guest on CKNW with Bill Good at 10:35am to discuss the Economic Summit.

Friday February 13

Housing Minister Rich Coleman will be a guest on CKNW with Bill Good from 10:30 to 10:40am to discuss Housing and related matters.

Thursday February 19

Finance Minister Colin Hansen will be a guest on Shaw’s Voice of BC from 8 to 9pm to discuss the BC Budget.

Quotes This Week

"Congratulations to B.C. Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell and six of B.C.'s post secondary educational institutions for developing some new opportunities in our education system. At a time when some agencies are hunkering down, reluctant to make changes, the six institutions [...] are expanding by offering new programs. The results will be more nurses to staff our hospitals, more people to focus on preserving our natural resources, more opprtunities for people to develop their athletic abilities and much more."
Terry Spence, CFAX 1070AM Radio Editorial, January 26, 2009.

"I'm in full support of the [Toba Montrose run-of-river] project, first and foremost because of the training and employment opportunities that exist as a result of this project and also looking at how Plutonic has worked with the First Nations in preserving sacred areas like, up in the Toba, culturally modified trees, burial sites and things like that. They're very good at letting us know when they find stuff like that so that we can treat it accordingly."
Stephen Gallagher, Sliammon First Nations, Training & Employment Coordinator for Toba-Montrose. CBC On the Island, January 29, 2009.


Did You Know?

  • Environment Minister Barry Penner is applauding an announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration that it will reconsider allowing California and other states to set tougher tailpipe emission standards, saying this will help save drivers money in the future, even as it reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
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  • This year, more than 95 per cent of classes in B.C. have 30 or fewer students and 99 per cent of classes have 32 or fewer students. Overall, the number of classes in B.C. with more than 30 students has decreased since 2005-06 by nearly 64 per cent, from 9,253 to 3,336.
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  • The Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project, first begun in 2003, is now about 80 per cent complete and will be finished in the fall.
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