First-time home buyers can receive a cheque for up to $10,000 to help with the cost of buying a newly built home, and seniors who need permanent home renovations, to help them stay in their homes longer, will be assisted with the cost of those renovations through legislation introduced today by Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.

The Province has introduced legislation to modernize the Pension Benefits Standards Act and allow the private sector to offer a wider choice of pension-plan options so that more British Columbians can have access to pension income during their retirement years.

Five collective agreements with faculty and instructors have received final ratification by the Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA) board under government's 2010 net-zero mandate, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced.

Investor response to B.C.'s credit strength has prompted the Province to launch a $1.25-billion US-dollar global bond issue as part of its annual borrowing program.

The British Columbia Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) board of directors has ratified two-year collective agreements for support staff in 10 additional school districts under the government's 2010 net-zero mandate, bringing the total up to 52 agreements covering about 26,600 employees.

The three major credit rating agencies have affirmed their credit ratings for the Province of B.C., including triple-A ratings - the highest possible - from Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Services, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) board of governors has provided the final ratification on a two-year collective agreement with its BCGEU child-care staff under government's 2010 net-zero mandate, announced Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto.

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon issued the following statement on negotiations with the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union: