Premier Christy Clark introduced the team providing government with expert advice and recommendations as British Columbia begins developing a new climate action plan that will build on its climate successes.

A new agreement with First Nations in the north that provides certainty around resource development along with a reduced backlog of mining permits will help create jobs in the mining sector, Premier Christy Clark announced today in her speech to Round Up 2012.

Premier Christy Clark and Taku River Tlingit First Nation spokesperson John Ward signed an agreement that creates 13 new protected areas and provides resource development opportunities and investment certainty in more than three million hectares (approximately 11,500 square miles) in the Atlin Taku region of northwestern B.C.

Parking will now be free in all provincial parks to encourage families to take advantage of our world-class parks system.

To celebrate Earth Day and build on B.C.'s leadership on green energy and green jobs, Premier Christy Clark announced provincial funding for a new biomass energy project at Simon Fraser University that will eliminate 11,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.