PREMIER APPLAUDS APPROVED DESTINATION STATUS
Premier Gordon Campbell congratulated Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway for successfully securing Approved Destination Status (ADS) with China.
- Approved Destination Status allows Chinese tour operators and travel agents to organize tours and advertise Canadian destinations. It also allows British Columbia’s tourism industry to promote directly to tour operators and market B.C. as a destination, including the development of specific promotions.
- It is anticipated that ADS could increase Chinese tourism to British Columbia by 25 per cent annually over the next few years.
Click for more information.
B.C. ECONOMY EXPECTED TO STABILIZE IN 2010
The B.C. Economic Forecast Council has slightly improved its growth projections for British Columbia, citing increased housing starts, and recent improvements in the mineral resources sector and commodities markets as the primary reasons.
- On average, the council now expects B.C.’s economy to post 2.9 per cent growth in 2010, upgraded from the 2.5 per cent growth projected in the September Update this year.
- The Economic Forecast Council represents some of the most respected independent economic forecasters in Canada.
Click for more information.
B.C. PPP PROJECTS WIN FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS
Four of British Columbia’s public infrastructure projects have won national awards from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.
- The Canada Line Rapid Transit Project and the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project have been honoured with the Gold Award for Infrastructure.
- The Golden Ears Bridge Project won the Silver Award for Infrastructure.
- The Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre won the Silver Award for Project Financing.
Click for more information.
GREEN ENERGY ADVISORY TASK FORCE SEEKS INPUT
B.C.’s Green Energy Advisory Task Force has launched a website that invites British Columbians to submit their ideas and input on the future of clean and renewable energy in B.C.
- The website asks British Columbians to submit their ideas and input on the following subjects: clean energy procurement and regulatory reform; carbon pricing, trading and clean energy export market development; community engagement and First Nations partnerships; and clean energy resource development.
- Submissions can be made via an email form until Dec. 31, 2009. The ideas and input submitted through the website will help inform the recommendations the task force makes to government in January 2010.
Click for more information.
