Premier Christy Clark has issued the following statement: British Columbia has suffered a loss with the passing of Wendy McDonald.

The Northeast and Northwest Regional Workforce Tables have completed their regional skills training plans and are ready to take action to help ensure northern B.C. communities have skilled workers to fill jobs, both today and in the future.

At the close of 2012, British Columbia's job growth remains strong and steady with a gain of 600 new jobs last month and a drop in the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent.

As the countdown to a new year begins, here are ten new or reformed laws that will help modernize the justice and public safety system for B.C. families.

Back by British Columbian demand, a new series of 'BC Jobs Start Here' job fairs will come to 22 communities beginning in January to promote current job opportunities, career trends and skills training - with the addition of a new Skills4BC booth.

BC Hydro has installed 93 per cent or 1.73 million of 1.87 million smart meters. To ensure the final seven per cent of smart meters can be installed, the Province is extending the deadline under the Clean Energy Act from Dec. 31, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2013.

More than half of all unionized public sector workers have new contracts under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate in time for the holiday season, and more than one-quarter of collective agreements up for negotiation have tentative or ratified settlements in place.