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close menu Office of the Premier

B.C. moves to increase housing supply, deliver more homes faster

September 18, 2023 9:00 AM
Creating more homes for people
New measures are coming to B.C. that will help create more housing as the Province speeds up permitting and helps build more secondary suites for rent.
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New vision connects rural B.C. to a stronger future

September 22, 2023 11:55 AM
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close menu Agriculture and Food

XY Ranch celebrates 100 years of raising livestock

August 4, 2023 1:15 PM
The Bouffioux family of Fort St. John is being honoured with a Century Farm Award, recognizing its contribution and dedication to agriculture in British Columbia since 1916. 
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B.C., Canada help farmers with climate adaptation, drought

August 2, 2023 2:00 PM
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Input from sheriffs to strengthen access to court services

September 27, 2023 10:00 AM
Input from sheriffs to strengthen access to court services
B.C.’s justice system will be strengthened by the B.C. Sheriff Service’s (BCSS) comprehensive plan to support sheriffs and make sure people have consistent, safer access to court services.
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New chair appointed to Building Code Appeal Board

August 24, 2023 8:30 AM
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Vancouver Island camp expansion will serve more children with disabilities

July 20, 2023 10:15 AM
Vancouver Island camp expansion will serve more children with disabilities
More children and youth with disabilities will be able to go to camp thanks in part to a $7-million grant from the Province of B.C.
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Newly named SAJE supports offer youth in care a stronger path to adulthood

May 30, 2023 10:30 AM
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More grant recipients promoting BC Demographic Survey

August 25, 2023 11:15 AM
More grant recipients promoting BC Demographic Survey
More community and Indigenous groups are receiving grants to help their communities participate in the BC Demographic Survey. 
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High-speed broadband access expanded to 6 Kootenay communities

August 3, 2023 10:00 AM
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Elementary school expansion provides more classrooms for Nanaimo students

September 11, 2023 9:15 AM
École Hammond Bay Elementary
Students have more space for learning at École Hammond Bay Elementary this fall after the completion of an expansion that added 12 new classrooms to the school. 
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Child care savings make returning to school more affordable for more B.C. families

August 31, 2023 1:30 PM
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State of emergency ends, fire response continues

September 14, 2023 3:43 PM
Based on advice from emergency management and wildfire officials, British Columbia’s provincial state of emergency will expire at the end of the day on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
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Financial assistance for local governments, First Nations affected by wildfire

September 6, 2023 1:50 PM
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Electric planes, motorcycles, boats showcase B.C. clean-transportation innovation

August 2, 2023 8:30 AM
A high-tech revolution is dramatically changing how British Columbia moves people and goods in the air, on the land and over the water, supported by government funding for companies that specialize in inventing and advancing zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies. 
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Columbia River Treaty talks move forward after constructive Seattle session

August 15, 2023 3:08 PM
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close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Province sets single-use plastic requirements

July 14, 2023 11:15 AM
Province sets single-use plastic requirements
A new provincial regulation will expand B.C.’s efforts to tackle hard-to-recycle single-use and plastic items.
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Nuxalk, Kitasoo Xai’xais guardians appointed with park ranger authority

July 25, 2023 2:30 PM
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Increased BC Family Benefit here to stay

July 18, 2023 10:15 AM
Increased BC Family Benefit here to stay
More than 285,000 families throughout B.C. will see bigger payments in their bank accounts starting this month, thanks to the permanently increased BC Family Benefit.
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Tax-credit lift puts more money in more people’s pockets

July 5, 2023 8:30 AM
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close menu Forests

Use caution, be fire safe this long weekend

August 31, 2023 2:30 PM
Be wildfire safe this long weekend
Residents and travellers are strongly urged to use caution and remain vigilant this Labour Day long weekend as ongoing elevated drought conditions in much of British Columbia increase the potential for wildfires.
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B.C. acts to protect fish in Koksilah, Upper Cowichan rivers

August 24, 2023 11:15 AM
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Actions protect people, B.C. communities this respiratory illness season

September 28, 2023 12:25 PM
Practice healthy habits, flu season has arrived
The Province and public-health officials are taking actions to continue protecting people, communities and the health-care system this fall and are encouraging people in B.C. aged six months and older to get their COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
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Expanded travel programs benefit patients needing cancer care

September 27, 2023 3:15 PM
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close menu Housing

B.C. moves to increase housing supply, deliver more homes faster

September 18, 2023 9:00 AM
Creating more homes for people
New measures are coming to B.C. that will help create more housing as the Province speeds up permitting and helps build more secondary suites for rent.
  Read More

Safe housing for women leaving violence opens in Campbell River

September 12, 2023 11:15 AM
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Premier’s and minister’s statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

September 30, 2023 7:30 AM
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
Premier David Eby and Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, issued the following statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day:
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Annual report updates collective efforts to achieve objectives of UN Declaration

June 28, 2023 12:45 PM
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close menu Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

B.C.’s highest honour recognizes 14 British Columbians

August 7, 2023 6:15 AM
B.C.’s highest honour recognizes 14 British Columbians
Fourteen exceptional people who have made an outstanding provincial, national or international impact will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest form of recognition and an official part of the Canadian Honours System.
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Submit a nomination for the Medal of Good Citizenship

July 25, 2023 9:30 AM
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close menu Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

B.C. supports research to protect coastal ecosystem

August 16, 2023 9:15 AM
B.C. supports research to protect coastal ecosystem
New funding for the University of Victoria’s (UVic) Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab (EXCEL) will support research on the impact of climate change on the environment and the promotion of resilience and sustainability for B.C.’s marine sector.
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Minister’s statement on July Labour Force Survey results

August 4, 2023 8:40 AM
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close menu Labour

Minimum wage increases to $16.75 per hour on June 1

April 5, 2023 12:30 PM
Minimum wage increases to $16.75 per hour on June 1
On June 1, 2023, B.C.'s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage increasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour.
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Work continues around improved protections for app-based workers

August 3, 2023 11:15 AM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

B.C. secures measures to ensure families feel safe accessing public spaces

September 14, 2023 9:22 AM
Keeping child-focused spaces safe
To help ensure kids and families feel safe in their communities, the Province has received approval from the federal government to prohibit the possession of illegal drugs at playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks.
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New recovery beds will support healthier communities in northern B.C.

September 13, 2023 8:30 AM
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close menu Municipal Affairs

New vision connects rural B.C. to a stronger future

September 22, 2023 11:55 AM
StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities
The B.C. government has released StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities, a new vision that outlines investments to help build a brighter future for rural communities and the people who call them home.
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Children empowered with lifelong learning through reading

September 22, 2023 9:15 AM
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close menu Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Provincial Tuition Waiver Program expanded to former youth in care of all ages

September 14, 2023 8:00 AM
Provincial Tuition Waiver Program expanded to former youth in care of all ages
People looking to enrol in post-secondary education, who are former youth in care, will benefit from an expansion of the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, which has launched for the fall semester.
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Expanded graduate scholarship funding will support students

August 22, 2023 12:00 PM
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close menu Public Safety and Solicitor General

Province provides support to strengthen local fire departments

September 22, 2023 11:37 AM
Three firefighters in dirty gear smile at the camera
Communities throughout British Columbia will see improved emergency response from their local fire departments as the Province provides support to strengthen community firefighting capacity.
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Supports expanding for people in mental-health, substance-use crisis

July 17, 2023 10:15 AM
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close menu Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Funding will help First Nations improve quality of life, reduce poverty

September 26, 2023 11:00 AM
Funding will help First Nations improve quality of life, reduce poverty
First Nations across B.C. will benefit from a $15-million investment from the Province to the First Nation Well Being Fund.
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People with injuries, disabilities supported getting back to work

September 6, 2023 11:45 AM
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close menu Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

B.C., viaSport take steps to make amateur sport safer

June 20, 2023 3:00 PM
B.C., viaSport take steps to make amateur sport safer
The Province and viaSport are improving safety in sports by continuing to provide education about safe sport, and by taking steps toward an independent complaints process for B.C.’s amateur sport sector.
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Submit a nomination for the Medal of Good Citizenship

July 25, 2023 9:30 AM
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close menu Transportation and Infrastructure

20-year strategy advances solutions for Central Okanagan transportation

September 28, 2023 11:45 AM
20-year strategy advances solutions for Central Okanagan transportation
A new comprehensive transportation strategy for the Central Okanagan between Lake Country and Peachland examines a range of projects that will help connect people with their communities, promote affordability, support the economy and the movement of goods, and create a cleaner environment. 
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Upgrades to highways 91 and 17 create safer, faster travel

September 28, 2023 11:30 AM
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close menu Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

B.C. moves to increase housing supply, deliver more homes faster

September 18, 2023 9:00 AM
Creating more homes for people
New measures are coming to B.C. that will help create more housing as the Province speeds up permitting and helps build more secondary suites for rent.
  Read More

Public input will enhance B.C.’s first-ever coastal marine strategy

August 15, 2023 2:00 PM
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Transportation and Infrastructure

Government begins open consultation on future of B.C. coastal ferries

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Honourable Rob Fleming

Honourable Rob Fleming

Honourable Rob Fleming

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close menu Transportation and Infrastructure

20-year strategy advances solutions for Central Okanagan transportation

September 28, 2023 11:45 AM
20-year strategy advances solutions for Central Okanagan transportation
A new comprehensive transportation strategy for the Central Okanagan between Lake Country and Peachland examines a range of projects that will help connect people with their communities, promote affordability, support the economy and the movement of goods, and create a cleaner environment. 
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Upgrades to highways 91 and 17 create safer, faster travel

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Transportation and Infrastructure

British Columbia News

Government begins open consultation on future of B.C. coastal ferries

https://news.gov.bc.ca/03014

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News Release

Victoria
Monday, October 29, 2012 11:00 AM

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News Release

Victoria

Monday, October 29, 2012 11:00 AM

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A public consultation and engagement process on the future of coastal ferry service in British Columbia will start today and run until Dec. 21. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak announced the consultation process today as part of the B.C. government's commitment to open government and in response to a recent review by the independent BC ferry commissioner.

The Review of the Coastal Ferry Act indicated that ferry users, the ferry operator and the B.C. government all need to be part of the solution to address the challenges facing the coastal ferry system in British Columbia.

Faced with declining ridership and rising costs, the B.C. government is asking for public input to inform decisions about service adjustments that will ensure coastal ferry services are sustainable and able to meet the unique needs of coastal communities. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, working with BC Ferries, is seeking public input on the principles that should guide decisions about service adjustments, as well as comments and suggestions on a long-term vision for an affordable and sustainable coastal ferry service.

The ministry is providing several opportunities for public consultation and engagement. All consultation and engagement meetings will be open to the public, and a series of small group meetings and open houses will take place in several communities. In addition, a discussion guide and feedback form will be available at the meetings and online. Information about how to participate can be found at: www.coastalferriesengagement.ca

Quotes:

Mary Polak, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure -

"We have a world-class ferry system in British Columbia and taxpayer contributions to our coastal ferry service are at an all-time high of $180 million this year. This open public consultation process will ensure that coastal communities, ferry users and taxpayers all have the opportunity to inform decisions about service adjustments that will ensure we have a sustainable, affordable and efficient ferry service."

Gord Macatee, BC ferry commissioner -

"I'm really pleased to see this consultation get underway so the public can provide input into a long-term vision for BC Ferries. This is what our report recommended, and I commend the government for taking this on in such a transparent fashion. I look forward to hearing the results."

Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries president and CEO -

"We at BC Ferries believe that the consultation and engagement process is an essential step in ensuring that the coastal ferry system remains viable in the long term, with the necessary flexibility to meet the changing needs of our customers."

More information:

BC Ferries Consultation: www.coastalferriesengagement.ca

GovTogetherBC: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/

Subscribe to GovTogetherBC newsletter: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/subscribe/

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Kate Trotter
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241


BACKGROUNDER

The challenge facing coastal ferry service

Declining ridership and increasing costs

  • The two largest operating expenses are fuel and labour.
  • Between 2004 and 2012, BC Ferries cut annual fuel consumption by 3.7 million litres (three per cent of total annual fuel consumption), but annual fuel costs increased 140 per cent, from $50 million to $121 million.
  • Between 2004 and 2012, labour costs rose 24 per cent from $245 to $305 million, partly due to increased staff levels mandated by federal safety regulations.
  • The total amount of government funding is currently more than $180 million - $150 million from the Province and $30 million from the federal government. To address the current fiscal challenges facing the ferry system, the Province is providing an additional $79.5 million in funding over the next four years.
  • Like ferry operators worldwide, there has been a decline in the numbers of vehicles and passengers carried.
  • Most coastal ferry routes are operating well below 50 per cent capacity, with some carrying more crew than passengers.
  • Recent reductions in the service between Vancouver Island and the mainland have generated $4 million in savings, and we are anticipating an additional $5 million in savings on the major routes. The remaining $21 million in efficiencies is expected from the other routes.

BC ferry commissioner

  • Is independent of both the government of B.C. and BC Ferries.
  •  Is responsible for regulating ferry fares by fare caps, while balancing the interests of ferry users, B.C. taxpayers and the ferry operator.
  • Monitors the service agreement between the B.C. government and BC Ferries.

BC coastal ferry facts

  • BC Ferries carries more than 21 million passengers per year with a satisfaction rating of 89 per cent and a reliability index of 99.5 per cent.
  • Declining ridership and rising costs resulted in a loss of more than $16 million dollars in the year ending March 31, 2012.
  • Increasing operational costs and the need to replace aging vessels and infrastructure could drive the funding shortfall to $114 million per year within five years.
  •  The BC Ferry commissioner recently set the price caps for the next three years based on there being $30 million in operational savings by April 2016.

Based on the decline in revenue and rising expenses threatening the coastal ferry service, the B.C. Ferry commissioner recommended the B.C. government work with BC Ferries to develop a long-term vision for the delivery of a sustainable coastal ferry service and to include a public consultation and engagement process.

Media Contact:

Kate Trotter
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241


https://news.gov.bc.ca/03014

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