BC Gov News

Budget 2018 carves a new path to shared prosperity for everyone in the province with a made-in-B.C. child-care plan, a comprehensive housing plan and record levels of capital investment in every corner of the province, Finance Minister Carole James announced today.

Rural and remote communities in the North and Central Okanagan are now enjoying the benefits of a high-speed internet connection, thanks to funding from the provincial government’s Connecting British Columbia program.

Since 2015, 60,000 British Columbians have registered to give the gift of life, thanks to a valuable partnership between Service BC and BC Transplant.

On January 17, 2018, a federal Connect to Innovate project called ‘Connected Coast’ was announced by the federal and provincial governments. The joint $45.4 million investment provides funding to two recipients – CityWest and Strathcona Regional District to install a new sub-sea fibre-optic cable from Prince Rupert to Vancouver with landings at multiple coastal communities along its route. Through a combined investment of $45.4 million, the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Government of British Columbia, is bringing new or improved high-speed internet to 154 rural and remote communities, enabling residents to get online.

List of communities that will benefit from investment in the Connected Coast project.

The Government of B.C. is contributing $100,000 to improve internet access to better connect the remote, island community of Bamfield to more business opportunities and to improve service delivery in areas such as health care, education and emergency response. This investment will help deliver a cutting-edge, high-speed fibre optic network that is consistently faster and more reliable, Minister of Citizens’ Services Jinny Sims announced today.

After 20 years, the Government of British Columbia’s procurement portal is in need of an overhaul.