Capital Report~February 6, 2009
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Premier Campbell and Minister Falcon prepare to start the construction of the new, 10-lane Port Mann Bridge.

Province Investing $14b for Jobs and Infrastructure

Close to $14 billion in infrastructure spending over the next three years could create tens of thousands of jobs and keep British Columbians working, Premier Gordon Campbell announced in his keynote address at the British Columbia Economic Summit.

  • Breakdown of provincial infrastructure investment:
  • $2 billion cost-shared with the federal government for new projects to be accelerated over the next three years. Of that $2 billion, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of projects can be launched within the next 90 days.
  • $10.6 billion in approved capital construction projects currently within the Province’s capital plan for the next three years.
  • $1.4 billion in local infrastructure projects being built in partnership with local governments and the federal government.

Click to read news release.

Premier Launches Construction of New Port Mann Bridge

The new Port Mann Bridge will be a single, 10-lane span, Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon announced as work began on the Port Mann-Highway 1 Project with the first pile for the bridge foundation being driven into the ground.

  • The new bridge will replace the existing 45-year-old bridge and provide badly needed capacity to meet current and future traffic demand.
  • The project also includes widening Highway 1, upgrading interchanges, and improving access and safety from McGill Street in Vancouver to 216th Street in Langley, a distance of approximately 37 km.
  • The Port Mann-Highway 1 Project will provide for the first bus service across the Port Mann Bridge in over 20 years.

Click to read news release.

2010 Aboriginal Pavilion to Showcase First Nations Inuit and Metis Peoples During 2010 Winter Games

Aboriginal and other leaders from across Canada joined the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) in downtown Vancouver today to unveil plans for the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion.

  • Centered on a 65-foot high inflated multi-media sphere, the pavilion will use the latest technology to showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, business, culture and sport from across Canada.
  • Located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver, within easy walking distance of BC Place and GM Place, the 8,000 square-foot 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion will be right in the heart of Olympic activity, with Vancouver’s Celebration Site located immediately across Cambie Street.

Click to read news release.

Friday February 6

Solicitor General John van Dongen will be a guest on CFAX 1070 Newsline PM from 5:15 to 5:20pm to discuss the new drivers licence. 

Sunday February 8

Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Mike de Jong will be a guest on CKNW with Sean Leslie at 3:30pm to discuss session and the budget deficit.

Friday February 13

Housing Minister Rich Coleman will be a guest on CKNW’s Bill Good Show from 10:30 to 10:40am.

Wednesday February 18

Agriculture and Lands Minister Ron Cantelon will be a guest on A-Channel’s Morning Show at 7:15am to discuss his new appointment.

Thursday February 19

Finance Minister Colin Hansen will be a guest on Shaw’s Voice of BC from 8:00 to 9:00pm to discuss the BC Budget.

 

Quotes This Week

"So what? It's a sensible response. To suggest that the Government balance its budget at all costs in very unusual circumstances wouldn't be wise in our view. So I think the Government is doing a sensible thing."
Darcy Rezac, Managing Director, Vancouver Board of Trade. Globe and Mail, February 3, 2009.

"The premier has taken a visionary approach to northwest B.C. electrification. By directing funds provided by the federal budget towards the electrification of Highway 37, the B.C. and federal governments would open up the development potential in the northwest. We applaud Premier Campbell's willingness to leverage federal infrastructure funds to develop the power line."
Tim McEwan, President and CEO, Initiatives Prince George, Prince George Citizen, February 3, 2009.

"We certainly understand the government's need to have an indication...as to the general progress of the education system in British Columbia."
Tom Potts, President, Central Okanagan Teachers’ Association. Kelowna Capital News, January 29, 2009.


Did You Know?


  • British Columbians will soon be carrying new, redesigned, high-tech driver’s licences that will be harder to alter, forge or obtain under different identities than current licences.

  • The number of new RCMP officers coming to B.C. is growing as 12 of this week’s 30 RCMP graduates are heading to the province to begin their careers.
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  • After BC Hydro introduced its Lifestyles Incentive Program for employees, it saw annual reductions of $1.2 million in sick leave costs and $97,000 in accident costs. BC Hydro estimates that it receives a benefit of $2.74 for every $1 it spends on the program.


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