MLA Barnett however is incorrect when saying Gibraltar Mines is in her provincial riding. Gibraltar Mines is in Cariboo-North as is the nearby community of McLeese Lake
Find MLA Barnett's remarks below:
It is my pleasure and great honour to rise today on behalf of the people of Cariboo-Chilcotin to offer my comments in response to the throne speech during this fifth session of the 40th parliament. First, I would like to wish all members of this House a very rewarding and productive legislative session.
Our province is the envy of Canada for our growing and thriving economy. I am extremely proud that much of our province's wealth is derived from the natural resources in outlying regions, including the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
Thinking about the year ahead, I am filled with hope. Yes, there will be challenges for all of us, but it is up to all citizens to turn those challenges into opportunities. As I stated, resource industries are vital in the Cariboo and the Chilcotin. The people of that area are working together to bring investment in those key industries — and all industries, in general.
Everyone has a role to play, from ordinary citizens talking about and celebrating what makes our region a great place to live, to chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, First Nations, and all levels of government creating a business atmosphere that convinces investors to come to the Cariboo-Chilcotin. We are pulling together to attract projects that will build our economy, while being environmentally responsible.
As we know, a strong economy allows us to strengthen our social programs, create jobs, and curb crime and homelessness. Our government continues to support all communities in our great province.
Last March I was honoured to be named Chair of the Rural Advisory Council, which was established in 2014 to help identify opportunities for small communities to diversify their economies. The rural advisory council is made up of 14 other people from rural British Columbia, from towns such as Skidegate, Vanderhoof, McBride, Armstrong, Christina Lake, Port McNeill and others.
One of the rural advisory council's recommendations was the creation of a rural dividend fund to assist smaller communities in transitioning their economies. Last fall I was thrilled when our Premier announced the creation of the rural dividend, which will provide up to $75 million over the next three years to economic stimulus projects in smaller communities.
As the global resource economy is in transition, some of the communities that contribute the most to B.C. are feeling the pinch. The rural dividend will help communities that are working to reinvigorate and diversify their economies and support them in putting in place their own solutions based on each community's values and needs. The rural dividend will support innovative and ambitious ideas and solutions with potential for the greatest impact on rural communities.
Supporting rural community transition and stability, the rural dividend is focused on the following priorities: building community capacity and quality of life, expanding learning and skill-development opportunities, providing opportunities for rural youth to stay and return to rural communities, and encouraging collaboration and partnerships between rural British Columbia and First Nations
The $25 million per year pilot program will run from 2016-17 to 2018-19 and be available only to communities outside urban areas with a population of 25,000 or under. The funding will be administered by the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations, which has responsibility for rural development. This is a great opportunity for the people of small communities — not governments — to work together. I hope to see as many communities as possible getting to make their common goals a reality.
I can't overstate the importance of the mining industry in our province and in my riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin. Rural communities across B.C. depend on the well-paying jobs that their mines provide residents. So it was a proud moment last Friday when I joined the Minister of Energy and Mines as he announced a plan to keep thousands of B.C.'s metal- and coal-mine workers on the job by allowing mining companies to temporarily defer a portion of their hydro bills. We are in the midst of a challenging time for the mining sector. This program will provide some temporary support to help the mines stay open as long as possible, hopefully until commodity prices bounce back. Under the five-year term of the program, which will be delivered by B.C. Hydro, companies operating metal and coal mines in B.C. will be able to defer a portion of their electricity payments to B.C. Hydro. The amount a mine will be allowed to defer is capped at the equivalent of up to 75 percent of its electricity costs over two years of the program. As commodity prices recover, the mines will repay the amounts deferred plus interest. The mining industry provides more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in B.C. This program offers immediate and meaningful relief to mining companies facing significant power costs and will help keep mines open. In my own riding, the Gibraltar mine employs more than 600 people who live primarily in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Quesnel. Gibraltar spends roughly $1 million every day to operate, most which goes directly into the local economy. The general manager of Gibraltar mine said himself that this flexibility on the part of our government will help Gibraltar continue to operate.
It is known around the world also — the Cariboo-Chilcotin and British Columbia — for its agricultural products. Another important industry in the Cariboo-Chilcotin is the cattle industry. Beef cattle are raised in great numbers in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and throughout B.C. Another important industry in the Cariboo-Chilcotin is the cattle industry. Beef cattle are raised in great numbers in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and throughout B.C., which is about 5 percent of the national beef herd. Our Cariboo-Chilcotin ranchers supply top-quality beef to local, national and international markets. As a whole, exports of B.C. food and beverage products last year accounted for $3.8 billion for the provincial economy, the highest sales total ever. Our government will continue to work on increasing provincial revenues in agri-foods and seafoods toward a goal of $15 billion a year by 2020. At home, we will capitalize on our success in agriculture by encouraging and supporting British Columbians to buy local and grow local to strengthen our cities and towns and allow the sector to flourish even further.
My riding is also a four-season vacation destination and an outdoors person's paradise. Just last weekend saw the completion of a snowmobile ride from Kamloops to Barkerville and back. This ride was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the B.C. Snowmobile Federation, and much of the ride was on the famous Gold Rush Trail. Ice fishing and downhill and cross-country skiing are also popular tourism draws at this time of year.
Our rugged terrain can also be dangerous. Fortunately, we have some of the best search and rescue volunteers anywhere. South Cariboo search and rescue is one of the provincial organizations that will receive a portion of our government's one-time funding of $10 billion to help pay for new or additional training, replace or update equipment or provide administrative support. There is a dedicated army of 2,500 volunteers who comb our province's back country, rappel into steep ravines and weather the worst of the elements while leaving behind the comforts of home to go seek and find those who are lost or injured. Over the coming months, the B.C. Search and Rescue Association will work with its membership to bolster ground search and rescue services throughout the province. In the past year, emergency management B.C. has had several discussions with the B.C. Search and Rescue Association on an alternate support model for this service. The funding will help to meet the 80 ground search and rescue team's immediate needs while EMBC continues to work with the B.C. search and rescue association on a long-term solution.
The $10 million investment builds on the $6.3 million that our government is already providing each year to cover ground search and rescue operational costs for deployment, as well as training and equipment cost and the insurance and liability for the members of the 80 groups serving across B.C.
Within ground search and rescue, there are roughly 100,000 hours of volunteer time donated to searches. To replace these would cost more than $5 million annually in direct salary dollars. Public safety is our number one priority, and this additional resource will help to bolster support to the front lines of search and rescue operations in communities throughout British Columbia.
As I stated at the beginning of my remarks, British Columbia stands as the envy of Canada. Thanks to our government's plan and the hard work and determination of British Columbians, our economy is Canada's bright spot in a time of economic uncertainty. Our plan is working, but we will not sit and rest on our laurels. Our diverse, strong and growing economy is founded on fiscal discipline, which has made British Columbia a leader in prosperity and growth.
As a result, we created more than 50,000 jobs last year, and we have the opportunity to eliminate the operating debt in just four years, paving the path towards a debt-free B.C. Next week, we will introduce a fourth consecutive balanced budget, controlling spending and growing the economy, so we have the ability to invest further in the vital services that British Columbians rely on.
Investments in in frontline workers, patient care, persons with disabilities and easing housing pressures are key examples of the benefits that come from a growing economy.
By keeping our focus on our B.C. jobs plan and growing sectors like tech, agrifoods and natural gas development, we will create real opportunities for families here at home, ensuring British Columbians remain first in line for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
We will continue to stand up to stand up for B.C., defending the interests of our natural resource sectors and the hard-working families in Cariboo-Chilcotin and throughout our province.
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