April 24, 2005
Click here to listen to audio from the event.
VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon Campbell today announced a BC Liberal government will establish an Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture, as well as annual Multicultural Dialogues, to celebrate, strengthen and unleash the power of B.C.’s rich cultural diversity.
“We live in one of the most diverse, vibrant and culturally-rich places in the world,” Campbell. “Our diversity is unmatched in Canada. It’s what makes us unique. It’s not only a source of provincial pride, but an enormous strategic asset for us all.
“The BC Liberals will build on progress we’ve made to unleash the power of our cultural diversity, and use it to build new opportunities in trade, tourism, education and health care.”
The annual Multicultural Dialogues will be held with MLAs and B.C.’s ethnic community leaders, including First Nations, in communities across B.C. Modeled after the government’s Provincial Congress, First Citizens’ Forum and Dialogues on Health and Education, the Multicultural Dialogues will provide a forum to identify ideas, recommendations and opportunities in areas like: trade, commerce, learning, language and skills-training, recruitment of foreign-trained professionals, tolerance and celebration of individual cultures.
One of the first priorities for the new Multicultural Dialogues will be to guide the development of the new Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture. The museum will showcase the history and diversity of B.C.’s multicultural communities, and foster greater understanding, appreciation, tolerance and pride of heritage in our province. Through the Multicultural Dialogues, leaders of B.C.’s ethnic communities, including First Nations, will help determine the location, content and development of the museum.
“We intend to invite the federal government, private-sector and communities to join in developing this attraction. We want the museum to be one of the top tourist-attractions in B.C., a place that showcases leading-edge technology, multi-media and interactive displays, and where people from around the globe can learn about B.C. in their own language. When people visit, we want them to know that B.C. is a place that celebrates our diversity, and where people come from around the world to live, learn, contribute, prosper and build a future.”
“The Multicultural Dialogues and the Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture are key components of our Asia-Pacific Gateway Strategy to take our products to the world and open doors for new cultural exchange, new relationships, and new partnerships in education,” said Campbell.
Premier Campbell said the Dialogues and the Asia-Pacific Museum will help BC build on the real progress made over the past four years to build stronger multicultural communities. BC Liberal investments and programs include:
- The $14.5 million B.C. Skills Connect for Immigrants program, to help more than 5,000 skilled immigrants overcome language barriers and difficulties gaining credentials.
- The expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program, to speed the entry of foreign-trained professionals. Since 2001, more than 800 highly-skilled applicants have taken advantage of this program – more than 300 in 2004 alone. Under the NDP there were fewer than 10 in total.
- Reductions in the time it takes for foreign doctors working on temporary permits in B.C. to gain permanent resident status, from three years down to six to eight months.
- $60 million for English as a Second Language programs in our public schools, and $17 million for ESL programs in 17 public colleges and university colleges.
