Katrine Conroy, Minister Responsible for the Columbia River Treaty, has issued the following statement regarding the 13th round of negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty, which took place in Richmond on Aug. 10-11, 2022:

New projects funded by the Province in partnership with coastal communities and Indigenous Peoples will clean as much as 1,000 kilometres of B.C.’s coastline, remove as many as 30 derelict vessels and support local jobs.

Thousands of B.C. businesses will have the opportunity to hone their online skills with another extension of the popular Digital Marketing Bootcamp program.

When staff at B.C.’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program were notified that a high-risk watercraft heading for the Lower Mainland appeared to be covered in invasive zebra mussels, inspectors with the Conservation Officer Service (COS) immediately took action.

Students and staff in Richmond can learn and work in seismically safer schools now that upgrades are complete at Maple Lane and F.A. Tomsett elementary schools. More seismic upgrades are also on the way, with work beginning at James Whiteside and William Bridge elementary schools.

More parents in Richmond and New Westminster will be able to pursue work, school and other opportunities while knowing their children are cared for as the Province invests in more than 160 new licensed child care spaces.

Twenty-seven new affordable and safe rental homes are available for single women and women with children in Richmond.