Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch, has issued the following statement on the occasion of the 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival, which opens Feb. 11th, 2017:

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.

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

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.

Work has been underway and will continue throughout the weekend to prepare the Alex Fraser Bridge and the Port Mann Bridge for safe and efficient travel during winter weather conditions.

The Province will increase and strengthen conservation in its world-renowned parks with a new investment of $35 million over the next three years.

A coroner’s inquest jury has issued 21 recommendations to try to reduce the toll from illicit drug deaths in B.C.