The British Columbia government is providing $100,000 so the Town of Golden can move forward with a new access option after the lower canyon of the Kicking Horse River was closed to the whitewater-rafting industry, Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, announced today.

Investing in modern, safe and efficient roadways is critical to connecting communities, helping businesses efficiently move their goods to domestic and international markets, and building a strong economic future for all Canadians.

The B.C. government is investing $45,000 to help the Golden community find a long-term solution for accessing the lower Kicking Horse Canyon and maximizing the tourism opportunities in the region.

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone posted the following open letter to the residents of Golden:

The Province remains committed to facilitating an agreement between Canadian Pacific (CP), the community of Golden and local rafting companies that would allow visitors to enjoy the 2016 rafting season.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone has issued the following statement on the report by the provincial health officer, Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Reducing the Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes on Health and Well-being in BC:

The 50th anniversary of the Trans-Canada Highway and the construction of the new four-lane Donald Bridge was celebrated today by Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and by Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett, representing Mary Polak, British Columbia's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.