The B.C. Liberal government has invested in expanded highways, new post-secondary facilities, bioenergy development and provided close to $300 million for regional economic development trusts. A new Northern and Rural Homeowner benefit will help northern families, and programs that have directly supported forest industry workers are being expanded to all resource workers affected by the global economic downturn. Three-quarters of all highways spending in the province’s three-year transportation plan is for roads outside of the Lower Mainland. Independent power projects are creating jobs and economic opportunities for rural and First Nations communities. Challenges and Opportunities:
Rural communities need to diversify their economic base to become more stable as the world economy shifts. There are new opportunities for rural communities to explore in sectors such as alternative energy, tourism, mining and aquaculture. With the expansion of our network of regional hospitals, new university campuses, and significant advancements to our transportation network including the Kicking horse Canyon, Cariboo Connector and William R. Bennett Bridge, those opportunities continue to grow.
Discussion:
How can government best support rural and northern communities as they seek to expand their economic base? What specific projects or opportunities the province can partner with communities to help them diversify their economy? If government is to invest in new infrastructure for rural communities, what types of projects should they be?
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
