To provide better access to needed health services, Health Minister Terry Lake announced an additional $25 million to increase surgical capacity in the next year. He also announced the provincial government will fund four new MRI machines.

Social innovators from all sectors came together in Vancouver today for the BC Social Innovation Youth Awards, a joint partnership between the government of British Columbia and RADIUS SFU, held at The Imperial Vancouver.

More than 250 Aboriginal learners in the Vancouver- Coast Mountain Region are receiving training in their communities through programs that will prepare them for jobs such as early childhood educators and trades such as welders and cooks.

Crews are gearing up for more snow forecast to hit the Lower Mainland this afternoon followed by freezing rain.

To further reduce barriers and make services and resources more easily accessible for people with disabilities, the Province is providing the BC Spinal Cord Injury Community Services Network (BC SCI Network) with $5 million to enhance their services for British Columbians with a physical disability.

The Province, in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, announced a $102-million project for 16 new state-of-the-art operating rooms to be built at the Jim Pattison Pavilion at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH).

Health Minister Terry Lake announced $5 million of additional funding for the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), as well as $1.9 million in ongoing funding to support the centre’s operations.

Leaders of British Columbia’s justice, public safety, mental health, substance use and social services sectors have committed to create an action plan on crisis response and continuity of care. The action plan is scheduled to be complete by November 2017.