Front-line ministry social workers in hard-to-recruit areas of the province will receive an additional $3,000 to $6,000 per year, thanks to a new agreement between government and the BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU).

A total of 85 communities throughout B.C. will benefit from $2.4 million in funding toward community adult-literacy programs that will support adults wishing to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

The Practice Ready Assessment program assesses internationally trained physicians for practice in B.C. As part of the program, doctors undergo a rigorous assessment process, spending three months with a B.C. physician who evaluates their skills as they care for patients. Physicians successfully completing the program commit to practice for at least three years in a designated rural community in need.

Health Minister Terry Lake has announced the 73 rural and remote B.C. communities that will welcome community paramedicine, a program that offers residents enhanced health services from paramedics.

More than 5,500 British Columbians across the province are receiving training for jobs in their communities, thanks to an investment of almost $36 million from the provincial and federal governments under the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund.

As part of the Province’s work to make sure British Columbians have access to high-quality primary care, 11 internationally-trained physicians will begin practicing in rural and remote communities in B.C., including six family doctors in the North.

As part of the Province’s work to make sure British Columbians have access to high-quality primary care, 11 internationally trained physicians will begin practising in rural and remote communities in British Columbia, including a new family doctor in Campbell River.

As part of the Province’s work to make sure British Columbians have access to high-quality primary care, 11 internationally trained physicians will begin practicing in rural and remote communities in B.C., including one new family doctor each for Logan Lake and Princeton and two for Ashcroft.

Twenty-four Aboriginal organizations and communities throughout B.C. will receive $1.5 million from the provincial government to support culture-based domestic violence programs for Aboriginal families and communities.