Following public consultation on draft regulations, a new college of diagnostic and therapeutic health professions is established and will become fully functional in the next 12-18 months.

Twenty-one local governments throughout the province will share over $200,000 in B.C. government planning grants to help develop plans for local infrastructure investments. This is the second phase of funding following almost $300,000 in infrastructure planning grants awarded to 31 local governments last fall.  

Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett proclaimed April 2017 as “Safe Digging Month” to create awareness of smart and safe digging practices.

Skilled-trades students in the Coquitlam School District will benefit from a three-year, $15-million investment by the B.C. government to support youth trades programs with the purchase of new trades-training equipment.

The Province is providing over $628,000 to support a two-year pilot project for the viticulture technician diploma program at Okanagan College, developed in partnership with the BC Wine Grape Council.

The BC Games Society is creating the Powering Potential Fund to support B.C.’s sport sector, thanks in part to up to $50,000 in matching funds from the B.C. government.

Capital investments totalling $7.4 million at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will create hundreds of additional specialty nursing spaces to improve care for patients throughout the province.

As of March 31, the Province has opened 500 additional substance-use treatment and intervention beds throughout British Columbia.

Local governments in Parksville-Qualicum are receiving federal-provincial investments in critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure, announced Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell on behalf of Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender.

A major resurfacing project for Highway 97 will get underway this spring, now that the contract for this work has been awarded.