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Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future

June 22, 2022 12:45 PM
Royal BC Museum project is stopped
The Province is halting plans announced last month to rebuild the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
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close menu Advanced Education and Skills Training

Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey

June 23, 2022 10:15 AM
Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey
More people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley will be able to pursue careers in physical therapy at a new training space coming to Surrey.
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Investing in biomedical engineering will bolster British Columbians’ health

June 13, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Agriculture and Food

B.C. ramps up support for agritech

June 24, 2022 8:30 AM
Two Vancouver-based agritech businesses are paving the way for stronger food security through B.C.’s Agritech Ramp-Up Pilot Program (Ramp-Up) with robotics and technology to support B.C.’s agriculture sector.
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Agriculture advisory group to help create more resilient food supply

June 14, 2022 8:30 AM
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close menu Attorney General

Anti-racism data legislation becomes law

June 3, 2022 8:00 AM
Anti-racism data legislation becomes law
Indigenous and Black people, and people of colour, are another step closer to having better access to government programs and services as the historic Anti-Racism Data Act is enshrined in B.C. law.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Children and Family Development

Province seeks public input on supports for children, youth

April 20, 2022 11:15 AM
A survey about B.C’s new service approach for children and youth with support needs is now open to the public.
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Process begins to select family connections centres

May 10, 2022 4:08 PM
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close menu Citizens' Services

More Cariboo communities connected to high-speed internet

June 23, 2022 9:00 AM
More than 1,200 households in 15 communities, including four First Nations communities, have access to high-speed internet services in the Cariboo, thanks to the installation of new fibre to the home.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Education and Child Care

Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families

June 20, 2022 12:02 PM
Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families
Applications are being accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program this year, which will enable them to offer low-cost child care, making life more affordable for thousands more families in B.C.
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Nisga’a students will benefit from new gymnasium

June 20, 2022 2:30 PM
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close menu Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

British Columbians can access more in EV charger rebates

May 18, 2022 10:05 AM
Better rebates for EV chargers
The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses and communities.
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B.C. supports EV adoption from purchase through repair

June 1, 2022 12:55 PM
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close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
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close menu Finance

Heat pump demand heats up in northern B.C.

June 20, 2022 11:52 AM
Heat pumps are more affordable than ever in B.C. with a provincial sales tax (PST) exemption and the launch of a new incentive to help people switch to the cleaner, energy-efficient technology that works in warm and cold climates.
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Rating agencies validate B.C.’s financial plan to support people, businesses

June 10, 2022 11:23 AM
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close menu Forests

Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season

June 3, 2022 9:15 AM
Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season
British Columbians can expect cooler and wetter conditions in June, which means the fire hazard is anticipated to remain low through the early summer, as shown in the BC Wildfire Service’s latest seasonal outlook.
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Province launches public engagement on strengthening Great Bear Rainforest

June 9, 2022 9:00 AM
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close menu Health

Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital

May 30, 2022 11:10 AM
Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital
People in one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. are one step closer to expanded patient care as construction begins on the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital.
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BC Cancer launches lung-screening program

May 25, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act
Tahltan Central Government and the Province have entered into the first consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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B.C. invests in First Nations language, arts, culture and heritage revitalization

June 14, 2022 1:15 PM
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close menu Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour

January 20, 2022 8:00 AM
Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour.
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Outstanding people recognized for service during the pandemic

March 22, 2022 2:30 PM
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close menu Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation

Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure

June 16, 2022 1:30 PM
Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure
A new agreement signed between the Province of B.C. and the group Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) will help deliver innovative and clean solutions for future transportation projects and priorities.
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Tŝilhqot’in Nation will benefit from forest-to-frame project

June 22, 2022 10:46 AM
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close menu Labour

B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers

May 31, 2022 8:30 AM
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province.
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B.C. expands cancer coverage for firefighters

April 22, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Land, Water and Resource Stewardship

Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.

April 21, 2022 11:15 AM
Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.
An ongoing effort to restore watersheds and wetlands in the province is creating a healthier future for British Columbians by mitigating the impacts of climate change on communities, strengthening ecosystems and securing quality drinking water.
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Minister’s and parliamentary secretary’s statement on federal decision about salmon farms

June 22, 2022 4:20 PM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

B.C. receives exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use

May 31, 2022 11:15 AM
A photo of a support group sitting in a circle
Text reads: Helping reduce drug stigma through decriminalization
British Columbia is taking a critical step toward reducing the shame and fear associated with substance use as the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced the granting of a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to remove criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of certain illicit substances for personal use.
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New Foundry will provide services to youth in northeastern B.C.

June 14, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Municipal Affairs

Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage

April 25, 2022 1:30 PM
Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage
Displaced Ukrainians arriving in B.C. with visas issued under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will now have access to date-of-arrival Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage.
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Summer Reading Club will keep kids and families reading

June 27, 2022 12:15 PM
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close menu Public Safety and Solicitor General

New funding helps prepare for Lytton rebuild

June 23, 2022 1:30 PM
The Province is committing $21 million to help re-establish essential infrastructure and services, and sustain ongoing municipal and community-led recovery efforts.
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Toxic drug supply continues to devastate communities throughout B.C.

June 9, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Funding helps immigrants fight food insecurity, get connected

June 8, 2022 1:15 PM
People facing food insecurity in B.C. will benefit from new government funding for community-based programs.
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Network helps people with disabilities focus on mental, physical wellness

June 3, 2022 8:30 AM
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close menu Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city
FIFA has confirmed that Vancouver has been chosen as an official host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Grants help youth in and from government care get in the game

May 30, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Transportation and Infrastructure

Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1

June 16, 2022 8:00 AM
Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1
Permanent repairs to flood-damaged sections of the Coquihalla (Highway 5) and Highway 1 will soon be underway, protecting the safe movement of people and goods in British Columbia.
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Major progress on Kicking Horse Canyon Project in first year of construction

June 8, 2022 9:00 AM
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Office of the Premier

B.C. welcomes U.S. commitment to Treatment as Prevention

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Premier John Horgan

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Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future

June 22, 2022 12:45 PM
Royal BC Museum project is stopped
The Province is halting plans announced last month to rebuild the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
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British Columbia News

B.C. welcomes U.S. commitment to Treatment as Prevention

https://news.gov.bc.ca/01134

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News Release

Victoria
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 6:18 PM

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News Release

Victoria

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 6:18 PM

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B.C. Premier Christy Clark lauded Hillary Rodham Clinton's call today for an AIDS-free generation and scaling up a Treatment as Prevention strategy as part of a comprehensive proposal to fight HIV and AIDS.

Premier Clark noted that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's strong endorsement of Treatment as Prevention reinforces the success of the strategy pioneered, modelled and proven in British Columbia and now embraced around the world.

"It was British Columbia under the leadership of Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS that put the pieces of the puzzle together to realize that expanded treatment could prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS," said Premier Clark. "We are proud to be able to share this effective treatment against the spread of HIV/AIDS with Canada and the world, and look forward to its increased implementation globally resulting from Hillary Clinton's announcement this morning."

Thirty years of leading-edge research in B.C. has helped turn HIV/AIDS from what was once a deadly epidemic into a chronic but manageable condition. More than 15 years ago, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), a program at St. Paul's Hospital, played the key role in the discovery and implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the landmark drug cocktail that has been adopted in Canada and around the world as the gold standard of treatment for HIV/AIDS.

Since 1996, HAART has been available free of charge to residents with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia. As a result, B.C. has experienced a dramatic decrease in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, as well as a dramatic reduction in new HIV diagnoses. In fact, as a result of Treatment as Prevention, B.C. is the only province in Canada that is demonstrating a consistent decline in HIV.

"Secretary Clinton's call to scale up access to HAART treatment around the world marks another key milestone in the global fight against HIV, and reinforces the success of B.C.'s decision to invest in HIV research, treatment and care," said Dr. Julio Montaner, director, BC-CfE. "B.C.'s success in combating HIV and AIDS and the leadership position we have today would not be possible without the significant and ongoing support from the B.C. government."

"It stepped up to fund the pioneering work done in British Columbia and the breakthroughs associated with HAART and the Treatment as Prevention strategy. Today, millions of people around the world directly benefit from this research."

Starting in the early-2000s, the BC-CfE pioneered the Treatment as Prevention strategy, which promotes increased testing and facilitates access to antiretroviral treatment for all medically eligible HIV-positive people, to stop the progression of HIV infection to AIDS or death and simultaneously halt the spread of HIV and AIDS.

In 2010, the B.C. provincial government announced an investment of $48 million over four years in a BC-CfE-led Treatment as Prevention pilot project called Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS).

Mathematical modelling suggests that this pilot project in two regions - Vancouver and Prince George - could avert as many as 173 HIV infections in the first five years, which in turn, represents approximately $65 million in avoided lifetime HIV treatment costs alone.

As indicated by today's White House announcement, the success of the Treatment as Prevention strategy has attracted attention globally.

"The proven success here at home in B.C. and international adoption of the Treatment as Prevention strategy is decreasing HIV/AIDS-related suffering as well as stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS," said Michael de Jong, B.C. Minister of Health. "The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, under the leadership of Dr. Montaner, continues to play a crucial leadership role that has turned research into policy and influenced treatment in a manner that is changing the face of HIV/AIDS."

Treatment as Prevention is recognized and supported internationally by organizations including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, China has implemented a national HIV/AIDS policy based on the BC-CfE's Treatment as Prevention strategy. Similar programs are currently under evaluation by local health authorities in San Francisco, the Bronx in New York, Washington, DC, and by the Clinton Health Initiative in Swaziland.

In addition to the support provided by the B.C. provincial government, the NIH-based National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) provided funding to help B.C. become the first jurisdiction in the world to incorporate Treatment as Prevention into practice. Partial support has also being provided by Gilead, Merck and ViiV.

In 2009, the WHO estimated that there are 33.4 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.7 million new HIV infections per year and two million annual deaths due to AIDS.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Mahafrine Petigara
Edelman (for BC-CfE)
604 623-3007 ext. 297
mahafrine.petigara@edelman.com

https://news.gov.bc.ca/01134

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