B.C. is on the way to reaching the goal of doubling tourism revenue by 2015. Tourism currently creates 120,000 direct jobs and 170,000 indirect jobs in the province, and contributes $13.1 billion to the provincial economy. We’ve increased Tourism B.C.’s budget by almost 150 per cent, cut taxes for tourism small businesses, created visitor’s centres at gateway locations across B.C., and supported major new facilities such as the Vancouver Convention Centre and Port of Nanaimo Centre. Challenges and Opportunities
B.C. is on the cusp of hosting the world for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. The Games are expected to generate over $4 billion in economic activity and 244,000 jobs and will be an unprecedented opportunity to showcase all of the regions of B.C. to the world. At the same time, with global economic developments we will need to become more competitive for the dollars of international travellers who may have less to spend in the future.
Discussion:
How can we market British Columbia to the world, and what kind of public facilities should government invest in that will attract more visitors and encourage people to explore B.C.’s communities?
B.C.'s small business growth leads Canada
B.C. government eliminated 164,000 pieces of red tape
B.C. Liberals lowered small business taxes
Province cut corporate taxes by one-third
Record funding for K-12 education
Class size limits enshrined in law
B.C. parents' right to volunteer guaranteed in law
Province adds more front-line staff for children at risk
B.C. Liberal government provided more funding for community infrastructure
B.C. government grants $285 M for regional economic trusts
All traffic fine revenue returned to cities annually
Provincial income tax eliminated for a quarter million low-income people
Number of child care spaces receiving operating funding almost double
B.C. Liberal government cut income taxes to lowest in Canada
Agreements providing social and economic opportunities for First Nations
B.C. Liberal Government signed modern treaties with six First Nations
Aboriginal unemployment a third lower than in 2001
B.C. Liberal government increased funding for health care by 60 per cent
B.C.'s first new regional hospital in 30 years built in Abbotsford
New hospitals under construction in five communities
Twice as many doctors being trained in B.C. than in 1990s
North America's most progressive climate action plan, praised by climatologists and economists
Carbon tax funds tax cuts and impact equal to removing 800,000 vehicles
Over 12,000 new and replacement seniors' care beds and units
Wait time for residential care down to 90 days from one year
B.C. government providing more home support care hours than ever before
B.C. Liberal government created seven new universities
