A vital transportation artery in Merritt that was heavily damaged by floodwaters will be rebuilt to a higher standard to make it more resilient to future flooding events and be safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

To help reduce flood risk, the Province is providing Merritt with $329,000 for a project to update flood-hazard mapping and develop new flood-mitigation plans.

The Province is set to transfer 11 hectares of Crown land to the Nicola Valley First Nations, fulfilling a promise made in March 2019 to work together to grow the regional economy and advance reconciliation with the First Nations.

Post-secondary education and training will be more affordable for thousands of students throughout B.C., thanks to the new B.C. Access Grant program.

Drivers are advised that a section of the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt will be closed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to allow for proactive avalanche control.

New maintenance contracts have been awarded for service areas in the Fraser Valley and Nicola, with improved standards and better highway conditions for British Columbians, year round.