Communities throughout British Columbia can take advantage of a new suite of online tools and resources to help them strengthen and diversify their local economies.

Tourism is one of the largest industries in B.C., comprising nearly 18,000 mostly small- to medium-sized businesses that directly employ more than 127,000 British Columbians. Impending labour shortages require action to attract and retain a highly skilled and motivated workforce, which is critical to achieving industry growth.

More skilled immigrants will be able to fully utilize their skills in the B.C. economy, as the B.C. government invests in projects and programs to speed up and improve the process for immigrants to get their credentials and qualifications recognized to work in B.C.

A multi-storey wood building is closer to becoming a reality, as three qualified teams have been shortlisted to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase of the competition to design and build the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC).

The month of May is Asian Heritage Month, and I'm pleased to celebrate

the contributions of Asian-Canadians to shaping our province and making it what it

is today.

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC) in Prince George is one step closer to construction today with the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design and construct the building.

Trade with Asia is crucial to British Columbia's prosperity. As the developed world struggles to recover from a debilitating recession and lingering uncertainty, virtually all economic growth is taking place in the emerging markets.