Courtesy of Hon. Pat Bell - BC Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation:
1. The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) in Prince George is one step closer to construction with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design and construct the building. The RFQ seeks eligible firms to design and construct the WIDC with a minimum height of six storeys. It is expected that three firms will be shortlisted and be asked to provide proposals to the government through a collaborative Request for Proposals that will begin in July of this year. Construction is expected to be completed by fall of 2014. The multi-storey iconic wood building will showcase British Columbia's expertise and global reputation as a leader in wood construction and design, and engineered wood products. Its construction will catalyze new wood product development, commercialization and adoption. Once complete, the building will house office space for provincial economic development and industry use, as well as academic and research programming with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). It will focus on advancing B.C.'s expertise in wood-related products, and it will highlight new and innovative wood building products and techniques.
2. We were very please last night to announce another $10 million investment in medical education for the North. The money will be used to construct new lecture space as well as technology focussed on training new medical proffesionals at the University Hospital. This has been a missing element that Shirley and I have been working on for some time and we were very pleased to announce it in a bit of an unusual way at the Bob Ewart dinner.
3. On Thursday John Rustad announced that we are moving ahead with plans for a Lakes District Hospital replacement in Burns Lake as a part of Budget 2012. The announcement comes less than three months after the tragic events on Jan. 20, 2012 when a fire destroyed the local sawmill. It is anticipated the new facility will go to procurement later this year, with construction expected to start in 2013 and be completed in 2015. The project will generate approximately 200 direct jobs. It is expected that the cost of the new hospital will be in the $50 to $55 million range.
4. In addition we are moving ahead with planning for a new hospital on Haida Gwaii as part of Budget 2012. It's anticipated the detailed planning process will start this spring. The proposed centre includes acute and residential-care beds. Anticipated cost of the new hospital is up to $50 million and will be refined once the final business plan has been approved, the tendering process complete and a contract awarded. Funding for the project will be cost-shared by the Province and North West Regional Hospital District. The existing Queen Charlotte Islands General Hospital, built in 1950, serves a population of approximately 4,800 people. It is an outdated facility for current health services, and a replacement facility is needed.
5. On Friday, Shirley (Bond) and I delivered its final payment of $10.12 million in direct funding for the 2015 Canada Winter Games. It is projected that the 2015 Canada Winter Games will inject an estimated $70 million to $90 million into the regional economy. Families in the region will benefit from other Games legacies such as improved infrastructure, a trained volunteer base, and sport-development programs and services. This will improve the long-term social and economic health of B.C.'s northern residents.
6. Premier Christy Clark announced an additional investment of $200 million over the next 5 years to the Cariboo Connector expansion, to widen 30 km of Highway 97 to four lanes between Prince George and Cache Creek. At the completion of Phase 2, almost 50 per cent of the 440 km highway between Cache Creek and Prince George will be either three or four lanes wide, improving the safety and mobility of this important corridor. What a difference will have been made in a period of 10 years!
7. The Province is providing $4 million for a new recreation and cultural centre in Quesnel that will create jobs and support healthy family activities. The North Cariboo Multi-Centre project includes a 1,600-seat arena, 450-seat theatre, and accompanying event and assembly space. While each component has a specific use, they can also be combined with one another to ensure flexibility in hosting larger events such as conferences and trade shows. The arena and theatre also encourage participation in physical activity and healthy lifestyles in the North Cariboo.
8. British Columbia's forest sector strategy, released under the BC Jobs Plan, will build on and grow six priorities planted by the Working Roundtable on Forestry to support a more vibrant sector that supports employment in every part of the province. The entire strategy is available at http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/Forest_Strategy_WEB.PDF
9. Prince George has been identified as one of seven communities to participate in a pilot project where poverty-reduction strategies will target the unique needs of families struggling to get out of poverty. Prince George, along with Cranbrook, Port Hardy, Surrey, New Westminster, Stewart and Kamloops have been identified as the first to pilot community poverty-reduction strategies. These communities were recommended by the UBCM to reflect a mix of metro, urban, rural and remote communities across B.C.. The strategies will optimize existing resources and will initially focus on families with children living in poverty. They will be guided by feedback from town hall meetings, community discussions and conversations with low-income families and individuals vulnerable to poverty. Key to developing successful strategies is recognition that each community has distinctive needs and resources. Community teams will take responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the project. Key to these strategies is working directly with families to understand their individual needs, connect them with supports and to develop personalized paths out of poverty designed by families themselves.
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