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PREMIER'S SPEECH TO THE UBCM Part one
Premier Gordon Campbell gave his annual address to the Union of B.C. Municipalities on September 26, 2008. [Runs 25 minutes, 30 sec.]
PREMIER'S SPEECH TO THE UBCM Part two
Premier Gordon Campbell gave his annual address to the Union of B.C. Municipalities on September 26, 2008. [Runs 26 minutes, 34 sec.] |
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PREMIER ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE TOWNS FOR TOMORROW PROGRAM
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced the Province will expand the Towns for Tomorrow community infrastructure program to communities with a population up to 15,000 and extend the program for an additional two years for a total commitment of $50 million; $10 million for the remainder of this year and $20 million for each of the next two years. Previously, the program was only available to communities with a population up to 5,000. [Runs 1 minute, 41 sec.] |
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B.C. WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION LINE
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, Premier Campbell announced the Province will immediately start the environmental assessment process and First Nations consultation on the Northwest Transmission Line along Highway 37. This is the first step towards building a powerline that has the potential to generate billions of dollars in capital investment, create thousands of new jobs and open economic opportunities on a global scale in the Northwest. [Runs 44 sec.] |
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NEW STREAMLINED APPLICATION PROCESS
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced a new streamlined application process will also be introduced for Towns for Tomorrow, cutting down on the amount of preparation work small communities need to apply for funding. Applications will be no more than two pages, and communities will have an answer within 60 days. [Runs one minute, 34 sec.] |
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PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW ONE-STOP RURAL SECRETARIAT
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced the creation of a new one-stop Rural Secretariat within the Ministry of Community Development that will directly assist municipalities and regional districts in applying for provincial and federal government infrastructure funding programs. [Runs 56 sec.] |
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PREMIER ANNOUNCES "LAST MILE" INTERNET CONNECTIONS
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced the extension of cell phone and Internet service directly to homes and businesses in all rural and remote communities. Over the next three years, the Province will use procurement policies to leverage "last mile" Internet connections. The Province also plans to work to expand cell phone service. [Runs one minute, 56 sec.] |
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PREMIER ANNOUNCES B.C. FAMILY RESIDENCE PROGRAM
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced the Province will establish a B.C. Family Residence Program to help provide accommodation for family members who need to travel to regional health centres. It will start at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver. The medical travel assistance program will also be increased. [Runs one minute, 37 sec.] |
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OPENING ACCESS TO RESOURCE ROADS
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced an initiative to open access to resource roads for residents and ensure they are properly maintained. The Province will work with the UBCM executive to develop a plan that ensures resource roads across the province meet the needs of communities. [Runs 44 sec.] |
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FRESH PRODUCE FOR REMOTE COMMUNITIES
During his annual Union of B.C. Municipalities address, the Premier announced a task force composed of representatives from remote communities and farmers will be formed to develop strategies to get fresh food grown in B.C. to remote communities. [Runs 37 sec.] |
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END TO COQUIHALLA TOLLS
Tolls on the Coquihalla Highway will be removed immediately, Premier Gordon Campbell announced. The total capital cost of the three phases was $848 million. Current annual revenue collected by the tolls is approximately $57 million. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure anticipates that revenues collected from the tolls since its opening will have effectively offset those total capital costs by next month. [Runs 47 sec.] |
