Capital Report~March 20, 2009
Capital Report is for anyone who would like to keep up-to-date on the B.C. Government Caucus. To subscribe to Capital Report click here rather than replying to this email. To learn more about the B.C. Government Caucus click here.

Premier Gordon Campbell is joined by Finance Minister Colin Hansen and Housing Minister Rich Coleman to announce an $800-million investment in housing, schools, courthouses and more which will create 4,800 construction jobs.

$800M for Housing, Education, Safety Creates 4,800 Jobs

Premier Gordon Campbell launched close to $800 million in public infrastructure projects for housing, education and public safety across B.C., including construction of six new housing developments in Vancouver, which will create 569 units for people facing homelessness.

  • A total of 113 infrastructure projects across B.C. are included as part of the roll-out of $793 million in investment.
  • These projects are part of the Province’s three-year, $14-billion capital infrastructure program that will create an estimated 88,000 jobs and build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Click for more information.

100 Shelter Beds Convert to 24/7 in Downtown Eastside

The Beacon and Haven shelters are the latest in permanent year-round shelters to convert to 24 hours per day/seven days per week operations.

  • Support services offered at emergency shelters include on-site case management, life-planning services and referrals and linkages to off-site services including income assistance, employee training, mental health and addiction services, primary health-care and life-skills training.
  • The provincial budget for emergency shelters is approximately $228 million over four years to allow emergency shelters to stay open 24/7. There are over 1,500 emergency shelter beds in B.C. funded by the Province, compared to approximately 850 in 2001.

Click for more information.

Canada-BC Partnership to Expand Transit & Create Jobs

Through this partnership, the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C. have identified several major transit projects, valued at $280 million, as priorities for infrastructure funding.

  • The federal government is setting aside up to $88.3 million, which will amount to a maximum of 33 per cent of eligible costs for the selected transit projects. The BC government is contributing over $118 million, with the balance coming from TransLink and local government partners.
  • The West Coast Express commuter rail service between Vancouver and Mission will be improved, with the purchase of seven additional cars, along with upgrades to Waterfront and Mission Stations to accommodate longer trains and provide enhanced passenger access.

Click for more information.

Sunday March 22

Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney will be a guest on Constituency Report on Shaw Cable 4 Lower Mainland at 12:30pm and 5:30pm.

Quotes This Week

"We’ve been waiting for a while for this to happen and we congratulate the provincial government for taking action on this. Kids are so much more affected by second hand smoke than adults and so decreasing their exposure to second hand smoke will make all the difference for their health."
Megan Klitch, Canadian Cancer Society. CKDV, March 19, 2009 (Commenting on the new regulations for smoking in vehicles).

"It’s very exciting because it’s been, you know, a long time in the making. We’ve been working on this project for just over a year now and so it’s great that shovels are going to be going in the ground in the very near future."
Kathy Stinson, executive director of Cool Aide Society. CHECK News Victoria, March 19, 2009 (Commenting on the recent announcement of homeless housing projects in Victoria).


Did You Know?

  • Children under the age of 16 will be protected from second-hand smoke in all motor vehicles when new regulations come into effect April 7, World Health Day. Individuals found to be in violation of the law will be subject to a $109 ticket.
    •
  • The Province is awarding $6.8 million in scholarships to nearly 7,000 B.C. students for their exceptional achievements in the 2007-08 school year.
    •
    © 2007 Government Caucus of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved.