First Nations business professionals are learning how to tap into liquefied natural gas (LNG) opportunities in British Columbia at a national Aboriginal business conference.

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond has released the following statement on the national Day of Mourning:

Okanagan families, communities and workers are benefitting from the efforts of the four local companies that make up this month's B.C. Job Makers. Each of the businesses profiled is helping to keep the local and B.C. economies diverse, strong and growing.

Ashcroft and Taylor are the latest municipalities to sign onto BizPaL, an online service that makes it easier for owners of small businesses to start and run a business.

Some of the world's best skiers and snowboarders are in Whistler for a couple of globally renowned alpine events this month.

B.C.'s labour market and economic development priorities will be front and centre in a redesigned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that will help to attract the skilled workers and investment-ready entrepreneurs needed to grow our economy.

Every time you have a shower or take a drink of fresh water from your kitchen tap, you have a plumber to thank. These skilled trades women and men are the ones who install, repair and maintain the pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment that we depend on every day. That's why today people across the world are celebrating plumbers everywhere by recognizing March 11 as World Plumbing Day.

If we want a strong and vibrant economic future, then it's key that strong and vibrant women help drive it. And a great opportunity for women to help drive the economy is through careers in the skilled trades.

It is International Women's Day March 8 and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate women entrepreneurs for their leadership in building successful businesses.