A new affordable housing project in Chilliwack has taken another step forward, with a groundbreaking ceremony taking place for the 80-unit development at 45603 Yale Rd.

People in need of a safe, warm place to stay, especially during the cold and wet winter months, will soon have access to a new 40-bed shelter in Surrey.

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch, has issued the following statement on the occasion of the 39th Vancouver International Wine Festival, which opens Feb. 11th, 2017:

A new MRI machine is coming to Nanaimo Regional Hospital to help increase patient access to MRI services. It is expected to be in place in 2018.

A new MRI machine is coming to Vernon Jubilee Hospital to help increase patient access to MRI services, and is expected to be in place in 2018.

To provide better access to needed health services, Health Minister Terry Lake announced an additional $25 million to increase surgical capacity in the next year. He also announced the provincial government will fund four new MRI machines.

North Vancouver-area MLAs joined with members of the community to celebrate the launch of Foundry North Shore, a new integrated youth service centre.

British Columbia health authorities and physicians completed thousands of additional surgeries from June 2015 to March 2016, as part of a government strategy to improve access to surgery.

The Ministry of Advanced Education is funding partnerships that connect Aboriginal students with education and training programs in their communities. These programs provide Aboriginal learners with work-ready skills such as basic computer literacy, as well as skills needed for jobs in sectors such as construction, tourism and education.