BC Gov News

As we come to the end of this difficult year, I am reflecting on how the pandemic has highlighted the courage and importance of working people.

On Nov. 26, I was sworn in as B.C.’s new minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development. I was also honoured to return to my role as minister responsible for the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power Corporation and last, but definitely not least, the Columbia River Treaty.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the day we pay our respects to 14 engineering students and staff who were murdered at École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989 solely because they were women.

British Columbians have been nimble in adapting their individual actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities over the last ten months, and it has had a big impact.

In February 2018, the B.C. government announced a three-year $1-billion investment through the Childcare BC plan – the most significant child care investment in B.C.'s history.

A new school year unlike any other begins in just a few days. I know living through the pandemic is a worry for all of us. But I know many people, especially students, are excited about heading back to school, to connect with teachers and friends.

This summer, our government has taken action to provide the most significant improvements to the Workers Compensation Act (WCA) in more than two decades. The current pandemic has highlighted the need for modernization, for stronger occupational health and safety protections and a more balanced workers’ compensation system. The bill we passed this summer drew on several expert reports that had feedback from employers, workers, as well as experts in workers’ compensation systems.

It’s hard to believe it’s been only four months since the world as we knew it changed drastically.

Many British Columbians are driving much less than they did before the pandemic.