Two agreements between BC Housing and the BCGEU reached under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate have now been ratified.

Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Rich Coleman today announced a package of regulatory changes designed to cut red tape and make exploration and mining more efficient in B.C.

The government of British Columbia is extending its financial contribution for a Farmers Advocacy Office (FAO) so landowners can continue to receive information and support in northeast B.C. for compensation and mitigation discussions related to proposed oil and gas activities on residential land.

The BC Oil and Gas Commission and members of both the Professional Employees Association and the BCGEU have now ratified their agreements reached under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

BC Hydro, IBEW Local 258 and COPE Local 378 members have now ratified two-year agreements under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

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.

The horse racing industry has received an additional allotment of funding designed to ensure the successful revitalization of the industry.

The government of British Columbia joined the Tahltan Central Council (TCC) and Shell Canada (Shell) to announce an agreement has been reached to resolve the status of natural-gas tenure in the Klappan area of northwest B.C.

Minister Coleman issued the following statement: "The Province of British Columbia is pleased to hear about this decision and we support the direction the federal government has taken today with respect to CNOOC and Petronas' bids to invest in British Columbia.