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close menu Office of the Premier

Upgrades secure drinking water system in Prince Rupert

March 17, 2023 9:38 AM
Upgrades secure drinking water system in Prince Rupert
The Province is providing $65 million to the City of Prince Rupert to replace crucial sections of its aging water-distribution system to ensure reliable water service for the community.
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B.C. supports stable, expanded transit services in Metro Vancouver

March 15, 2023 1:20 PM
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close menu Agriculture and Food

Historic investment in food security supports British Columbians

March 7, 2023 10:55 AM
Historic investment in food security supports British Columbians
The Province is investing more than $200 million in food security to ensure people have better access to an increased supply of affordable, local food.   
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Farmers, ranchers, processors supported by new Canada-B.C. partnership

March 15, 2023 9:00 AM
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close menu Attorney General

New legislation will help protect against sharing of intimate images without consent

March 6, 2023 3:00 PM
Sharing intimate images without consent is wrong
To better protect people from the harmful effects of having their intimate images shared without their consent and improve access to justice for survivors of sexualized violence, the Province is introducing the intimate images protection act. 
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Amendments will fight disinformation, make elections more accessible

March 2, 2023 10:15 AM
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close menu Children and Family Development

B.C. boosts payments for children in foster, kinship, out-of-care placements

March 29, 2023 12:30 PM
B.C. boosts payments for children in foster, kinship, out-of-care placements
Foster parents and others who support vulnerable children and youth will soon have more assistance with monthly costs, with an increase to payments that help cover food, clothing and transportation costs for children and youth in their care. 
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Access to post-secondary education expanded for former youth in care

March 14, 2023 10:15 AM
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close menu Citizens' Services

British Columbians will get better highway cell coverage

March 21, 2023 10:45 AM
Safer highways with expanded cell coverage
The Province is supporting new cellular projects that will enable better safety for travellers along key transportation routes across British Columbia.
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High-speed internet access coming to remote Gitanyow, Stewart

March 16, 2023 11:15 AM
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close menu Education and Child Care

B.C. launches anti-racism action plan for K-12 students

January 23, 2023 11:15 AM
B.C. launches anti-racism action plan for K-12 students
Empowering students and educators to identify and take action against racism and discrimination in British Columbia schools is the aim of a new provincial K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan launched on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.
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Students get improved air quality in B.C. schools

March 15, 2023 2:30 PM
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close menu Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

Province boosts funding for communities to help tackle climate challenge

February 21, 2023 12:22 PM
Province boosts funding for communities to help tackle climate challenge
Historic provincial investments will support communities in preparing for the risk of natural disasters related to climate change, along with a new one-stop online platform to help people and communities better prepare for, mitigate and understand disaster and climate risks.
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Community emergency response enhanced by Indigenous cultural safety

February 16, 2023 8:00 AM
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close menu Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

Fund supports robot marine monitoring, ‘blue’ economy

March 28, 2023 10:15 AM
Fund supports robot marine monitoring, ‘blue’ economy
B.C.-based “blue” technology and innovation is creating jobs for British Columbians, building a sustainable ocean economy, cutting the cost of ocean research and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  
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New energy action framework to cap emissions, electrify the clean economy

March 14, 2023 2:50 PM
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close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Province improves inclusion, accessibility in B.C. parks

March 22, 2023 10:45 AM
Province improves inclusion, accessibility in B.C. parks
The Province is renewing and expanding its commitment to make B.C. parks more inclusive and accessible with the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion.
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New energy action framework to cap emissions, electrify the clean economy

March 14, 2023 2:50 PM
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close menu Finance

Safe money services protect people from money laundering

March 29, 2023 2:05 PM
Safe money services protect people from money laundering
People in B.C. can be confident that money services businesses they use will have greater oversight by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) as a new provincial regulator.
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Public registry would end hidden ownership in private businesses

March 29, 2023 1:55 PM
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close menu Forests

B.C. introduces new measures on old growth, innovation, forest stewardship

February 15, 2023 1:20 PM
Taking more action to care for B.C. forests
The B.C. government is launching new measures to protect more old growth by fast-tracking innovation and co-developing new local plans with First Nations to better care for B.C.’s forests.
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Updated angling fees increase streams of revenue for fisheries conservation

March 14, 2023 3:45 PM
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close menu Health

New long-term care home coming to Vancouver

March 22, 2023 9:30 AM
New long-term care home coming to Vancouver
People on the Lower Mainland will benefit from improved long-term care and community services as Providence Health Care prepares to build the new St. Vincent’s Heather long-term care home.
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Sts’ailes will receive improved access to First Nations-led primary care

March 17, 2023 12:00 PM
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close menu Housing

Safe, new homes coming for women, children in B.C.

March 9, 2023 9:15 AM
Safe, new homes coming for women, children in B.C.
More women and children will have an affordable, safe and secure place to go, as 150 homes are either opening or are under construction in four different locations throughout the province.
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More than 130 affordable rental homes open in Langford, Victoria

February 17, 2023 11:00 AM
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close menu Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

B.C. will formally recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

February 7, 2023 11:35 AM
B.C. will formally recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be enshrined in B.C. law to honour the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and remember the children who never came home.
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Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Province partner to create Oomiiqsu Mother Centre

November 8, 2022 2:15 PM
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close menu Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Nominate an exceptional citizen for B.C.’s highest honour

January 6, 2023 9:30 AM
Nominate an exceptional citizen for B.C.’s highest honour
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour.
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Fifteen British Columbians honoured for dedication to service

December 5, 2022 10:30 AM
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close menu Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

Minister’s statement on February Labour Force Survey results

March 10, 2023 8:00 AM
Minister’s statement on February Labour Force Survey results
Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for February 2023:
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New legislation will reduce barriers for people

March 8, 2023 1:55 PM
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close menu Labour

B.C. will formally recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

February 7, 2023 11:35 AM
B.C. will formally recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be enshrined in B.C. law to honour the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and remember the children who never came home.
  Read More

New funds will bolster supports for workers, businesses

February 23, 2023 11:45 AM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

B.C. building historic treatment, recovery services for people struggling with addiction

March 2, 2023 12:15 PM
More addiction treatment and recovery spaces
People struggling with mental health and addiction will have access to more treatment and recovery beds, along with community-based aftercare services through new historic investments through Budget 2023.   
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B.C. takes action to reduce ER wait times for people in mental-health crisis

February 23, 2023 9:52 AM
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close menu Municipal Affairs

Public libraries see historic funding boost from Province

March 24, 2023 10:45 AM
Public libraries see historic funding boost from Province
Public library users in communities throughout B.C. will benefit from modernized technology, enhanced programs and services, and better access to information through $45 million in provincial funding.
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Upgrades secure drinking water system in Prince Rupert

March 17, 2023 9:38 AM
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close menu Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

More veterinarians coming for B.C. pet owners, farmers

March 23, 2023 11:15 AM
More veterinarians in B.C.
The Province is permanently doubling the number of subsidized seats for B.C. veterinary students attending the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan.
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Province cooks up new centre for tourism, culinary arts

March 21, 2023 10:30 AM
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close menu Public Safety and Solicitor General

Repeat violent offending teams strengthen public safety

March 14, 2023 10:45 AM
The Province is creating dedicated police-prosecutor-probation officer teams to help keep communities safe by focusing on repeat violent offending throughout British Columbia.
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Investment in 911 network supports safer communities

March 1, 2023 10:45 AM
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close menu Social Development and Poverty Reduction

More youth with developmental disabilities get help finding work

March 29, 2023 9:30 AM
Youth with developmental disabilities will get extra help to transition from school to work
Youth with developmental disabilities will get extra help to transition from school to work through a $2-million provincial grant.   
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New co-ops will open doors to income and protections for racialized communities

March 31, 2023 11:10 AM
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close menu Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Contract awarded for RBCM collections, research building

February 23, 2023 2:30 PM
Contract awarded for RBCM collections, research building
Construction will begin this summer on the Royal BC Museum’s (RBCM) collections and research building as part of a long-term plan to protect the Province’s collections that include more than seven million artifacts and the BC Archives.
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Support to host sport events will benefit B.C. athletes, tourism

March 12, 2023 1:30 PM
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close menu Transportation and Infrastructure

B.C. supports stable, expanded transit services in Metro Vancouver

March 15, 2023 1:20 PM
B.C. supports stable, expanded transit services in Metro Vancouver
The Province is taking action to address TransLink’s urgent financial needs to protect transit service levels and investment plans, while providing reliable, affordable public transit that connects people to jobs, schools and essential services, enabling the transportation authority to plan for the region’s future.
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New funding will keep ferry fares affordable

February 26, 2023 1:46 PM
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close menu Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Marine Protected Area Network partners endorse plan to protect British Columbia’s North Coast

February 5, 2023 10:45 AM
Marine Protected Area Network partners endorse plan to protect British Columbia’s North Coast
From Fisheries and Oceans Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2023/02/marine-protected-area-network-partners-endorse-plan-to-protect-british-columbias-north-coast.html
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Watershed strategy co-developed with First Nations, $100 million invested

March 6, 2023 9:15 AM
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Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

Expanded housing opens for Victoria homeless

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Honourable Josie Osborne

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close menu Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

Fund supports robot marine monitoring, ‘blue’ economy

March 28, 2023 10:15 AM
Fund supports robot marine monitoring, ‘blue’ economy
B.C.-based “blue” technology and innovation is creating jobs for British Columbians, building a sustainable ocean economy, cutting the cost of ocean research and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  
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Expanded housing opens for Victoria homeless

https://news.gov.bc.ca/02216

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News Release

Victoria
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 2:00 PM

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News Release

Victoria

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 2:00 PM

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People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Victoria have greater access to supportive housing with today's official opening of the newly expanded Swift House.

Located at 467 Swift St., the building originally contained 26 supportive apartments as well as shelter space. After opening Rock Bay Landing in 2011, and moving the emergency shelter beds to that location, Swift House was redeveloped and now offers 49 supportive housing apartments.

Swift House is managed and operated by Victoria Cool Aid Society.

The Province provided $2.45 million in construction financing for the renovations at Swift House and will provide annual operational funding of approximately $1 million for all 49 apartments.

This is the third and final project to open under an agreement between the Province and the City of Victoria to create over 170 new or upgraded units of supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head -

"We have worked with the city to develop three new supportive housing projects for those who are homeless - Swift House, Rock Bay Landing and Camas Gardens. These projects show what can happen when we all work together and combine resources. In each of these developments are stories of transformation, strength and human resilience. They have had a remarkable impact on so many lives."

Murray Coell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands -

"Swift House is a great example of how we can use existing resources to create housing for people in need in Victoria. Supportive housing offers people a safe home and the supports needed to change the course of their lives. We know the model works and it is making a real difference for some of the most vulnerable people in our community."

Mayor Dean Fortin, City of

"Ending homelessness in Victoria is one of our top priorities. Through strong partnerships with other levels of government and local non-profit housing operators, we can make a real difference for people in need in our community. With today's opening of Swift House, we are one step closer to achieving this goal."

Kathy Stinson, executive director, Victoria Cool Aid Society -

"At Victoria Cool Aid Society, we truly believe that by working together, we can find community-based solutions to help end homelessness. Swift House is just one example among many of how we can build an inclusive, safe community for people in need."

Quick Facts:

  • Under the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, the government has partnerships with eight communities.
  • The municipal partnerships will build more than 2,300 new units of supportive housing for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in B.C. (Abbotsford, Campbell River, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.) Construction is now underway or complete at many of the 32 housing developments.
  • Over the last decade, the Province has invested $2.8 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 97,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
  • In 2010-11, the Province invested approximately $29 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for nearly 4,800 households in Victoria.
  • The Victoria Cool Aid Society has been building hope, lives and community in the Capital Region since 1968 through a wide range of programs including supported housing, community health and dental services, emergency shelter and a casual labour pool for adults who are homeless or in need of help.

Learn More:

To learn more about provincial programs and services to address homelessness, visit: www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Creating/PHI

To learn more about programs and services offered by the Victoria Cool Aid Society, please visit: www.coolaid.org

Contacts:

Seumas Gordon
BC Housing
604 439-4789
604 417-5791 cell

Katie Josephson
City of Victoria
250 361-0210
250 217-8343 cell

https://news.gov.bc.ca/02216

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