On Monday, Feb 16th - His Honour, the Hon. Steven L Point, Lieutenant-Governor of BC read the Speech from the Throne.
Highlights include:
B.C. has identified $2 billion worth of infrastructure projects that might be accelerated over the next three years and has submitted proposals for nearly 400 projects to the federal government for cost-sharing. A further $10.6 billion in approved capital projects are scheduled for construction in the next three years and an additional $1.4 billion worth of local infrastructure projects will also be built.
Work will accelerate on key transportation corridors, including the Cariboo Connector, improvements to Highway 3, Highway 16, Highway 97, the Pine Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the border.
These infrastructure investments represent a total of $14 billion in new and ongoing public capital construction and 88,000 jobs throughout the province.
Work will accelerate on key transportation corridors, including the Cariboo Connector, improvements to Highway 3, Highway 16, Highway 97, the Pine Pass, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the border.
The BC Liberal government will accelerate research investments this year in cancer, life sciences, cleaner energy technologies, and biotechnology.
Working with the federal government, B.C. will invest in renovating, retrofitting and upgrading existing buildings to make them more energy efficient, healthier and safer.
The BC Liberal government will help local governments access new funding to upgrade their infrastructure, and to capitalize on new funding for recreation facilities and flood prevention.
New legislation will be introduced this spring to advance the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement and achieve true labour mobility for all Canadians wanting to work in British Columbia.
The BC Liberal government will set an integrated, expanded transmission plan that encourages small-scale power projects, economic opportunity and jobs throughout B.C. by year end.
The BC Liberal government will pursue a major expansion in electrical transmission capacity that will create thousands of new construction jobs and reduce energy loss through transmission.
British Columbia will build on its competitive advantage as a global leader in clean engine technologies through a new commercial vehicle program that will help to create cleaner air, lower greenhouse gas emissions, lower costs, create jobs in research, development and manufacturing.
The BC Liberal government will increase K-12 education funding in spite of falling school-age populations.
Previously-budgeted increases for health and education will be protected.
90 per cent of all budgeted new operating spending in the next three years will go to health care.
The BC Liberal government will increase K-12 education funding in spite of falling school-age populations.
Funding for advanced education will be increased. New capital investments will create jobs and provide essential upgrades and new space for B.C.’s colleges and universities, in partnership with the federal government.
New legislation will require wood as the primary building material in all new publicly owned and provincially funded buildings, consistent with the new BC Building Code.
Enabling legislation will be developed this year, so that B.C.’s new pension plan is up and running by Canada Day, 2010.
The BC Liberal government is working with First Nations to develop a Recognition and Reconciliation Act that will establish a new statutory framework to further the implementation of the New Relationship.
The BC Liberal government will expand supportive housing to combat homelessness and to shelter those with mental illnesses. That housing will be supported by a new integrated, personalized homelessness intervention strategy and a new community safety strategy.
No comments:
Post a Comment