Emergency health services in the Coquihalla corridor will be strengthened thanks to a planned expansion and renovation of the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre’s emergency department.

Members of the Lower Nicola Indian Band will receive direct economic benefits from Teck’s Highland Valley Copper Operations thanks to two new agreements – one with the provincial government and one with the mining firm.

Students at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) will benefit from $100,000 in funding toward the purchase of new industry-standard trades equipment, including portable welding booths that will enable students to prepare for jobs in the trades.

Seniors and persons with mobility issues in Merritt will benefit by a new HandyDART service in the community, thanks to funding set aside by the Province and the City of Merritt.

As part of a commitment to increase the number of Aboriginal faculty members in the public post-secondary education sector, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) will offer a master of education program jointly with the University of British Columbia.

The Province is establishing a Technical Working Group to conduct a scientific review on the use of biosolids in the Nicola Valley.