Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food, has issued the following statement in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR):

More women and non-binary immigrants and refugees who have experienced violence, abuse or trauma will be able to access employment services and supports through a $2.4-million grant to YWCA Metro Vancouver.

New funding will support more people to train for jobs in much-needed positions in the Kootenays, such as digital business managers, at Kootenay Columbia College of Integrative Health Sciences through a new Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project funded by the Province.

The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Ministry of Finance are releasing a “what we heard” report from discussions with First Nations on the co-development of a new fiscal framework, which includes a new forestry revenue-sharing model. 

People will be able to move into new homes faster as the Province invests in digital permitting and the construction industry to make the process quicker and more collaborative.

More than 200 units are on the way for people in Vancouver as the Province has purchased a 115-unit building at 1450 West 12th Ave. to provide supportive housing and a 95-unit building in Gastown is also set to reopen.

Feedback gathered through the Province’s public engagement about app-based ride-hailing and food-delivery work has been compiled into a “what we heard” report.

Local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations can further strengthen their communities with twice the funding for B.C.’s newest economic diversification program, which has now approved more than 200 projects provincewide.