Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick, responsible for the BC Francophone Affairs Program, celebrated the 15th annual B.C. Francophonie Day with the francophone community representatives and francophiles at the Parliament Buildings.

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond, on behalf of Premier Christy Clark, presented Paul and Terry Nichols, well-known Quesnel citizens, with the Province’s significant honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship.

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond, on behalf of Premier Christy Clark, presented Peter Lawless, a well-known Victoria citizen, with the Province’s newest honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship.

Small ranches and livestock farms in B.C. are getting help to meet upcoming national livestock traceability requirements that will help track livestock movements in the event of an animal health investigation, and also offer the opportunity for ranchers to reach new customers who focus on the awareness and promotion of where they source their food.

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson has issued the following statement regarding federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr’s announcement of a Federal-Provincial Task Force on Softwood Lumber:

British Columbia’s value-added food companies will increase their chances of having their products sold outside of Canada by participating in a Government of Canada- and British Columbia-funded program to help them meet international food safety and traceability requirements.

In her speech from the throne, Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon outlined how British Columbia has navigated challenging times to lead Canada, thanks to a plan – and hard-working British Columbians.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $70-million investment in a new health-science centre at Camosun College and a Centre for Environmental Science and International Partnership at Royal Roads University (RRU).

In the first half of 2016, the governments of Canada and B.C. invested approximately $6.9 million to support business development, innovation, food safety, sustainability and future agriculture leaders in B.C.’s agri-food sector.

British Columbia’s agritech sector will benefit from the $240,000 that the winners of the Agritech Innovation Challenge will receive to develop and adopt new technology.