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Cellphone restrictions in schools take effect as part of actions to keep kids safe, healthy

Cellphones and other digital devices will be restricted in B.C. schools when students return to school next week as part of a series of actions to keep kids safe and healthy.
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More student housing opening at Okanagan College

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Agriculture and Food

B.C. farmers getting more support to grow food using tech

B.C. farmers are getting help with adopting new labour-saving technologies that will enhance their profitability, productivity and efficiency, while helping to improve food security in the province.
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B.C. strengthens tree-fruit sector, protects growers, workers

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Attorney General

Nominations open for King’s Counsel designation

Nominations for the honorary designation of King’s Counsel (KC) for 2024 will open on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
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Provincial court to use Cowichan Tribes laws for child and family services

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Children and Family Development

Province takes new direction for vulnerable children, families

Keeping children, youth and families safe and connected to the supports they need will be the focus of a new government-wide approach that reimagines how services are delivered throughout the province.
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Children in care are being seen, heard, protected

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Citizens' Services

High-speed internet access available in Hartley Bay

People in the village of Hartley Bay now have access to high-speed internet, unlocking reliable, faster access to digital services and economic opportunities.
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New connectivity funding will benefit rural communities

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Education and Child Care

Cellphone restrictions in schools take effect as part of actions to keep kids safe, healthy

Cellphones and other digital devices will be restricted in B.C. schools when students return to school next week as part of a series of actions to keep kids safe and healthy.
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More certified teachers coming to B.C. schools

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Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

Public notifications and evacuation route planning will strengthen community safety

To help keep people safe and informed during emergencies, the Province is providing funding to communities in B.C. to improve planning for emergency evacuation routes and public notifications.
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Province supports search-and-rescue teams for a safer backcountry

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Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

B.C. powering growth in Tri-Cities with clean electricity

BC Hydro will construct approximately $360 million worth of capital projects in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and the Village of Anmore over the next decade to upgrade and expand the electricity grid and provide clean power for homes, businesses, and growing electrification and transportation needs.
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B.C. powering growth in Richmond with clean electricity

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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Province acquires land to expand Okanagan Lake Park

A waterfront property along Okanagan Lake will gain permanent protection so more people can enjoy outdoor recreation in B.C.’s Interior.
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New projects underway to clean up another 1,900 km of B.C. shoreline

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Finance

Public accounts show B.C. put people first amid wildfires, global challenges

The Province supported people through a record wildfire season and a global economic slowdown in 2023-24, while continuing to build the schools, hospitals and homes people need.
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More help with everyday costs coming for more families

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Forests

Vancouver Island Nations will have safer community access roads

Toquaht Nation and Uchucklesaht Tribe members on the west coast of Vancouver Island will have safer access to their communities with new improvements coming to forest service roads.
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New upgrades to Beaver Lodge support local recreation

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Health

Provincial health officer’s statement on ensuring children’s vaccinations are up to date

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, has issued the following statement to make sure children in B.C. are up to date on all their vaccines as part of back-to-school preparations:
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Second urgent and primary care centre coming to Vernon

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Housing

Nearly 1,500 affordable homes protected through Rental Protection Fund

The Rental Protection Fund has helped protect 75 more affordable rental homes for people in Squamish and North Vancouver.
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More temporary homes coming for people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna

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Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

K’ómoks First Nation, Canada, B.C. take important step to advance reconciliation by initialling draft K’ómoks Treaty

Elected Chief Ken Price of the K’ómoks First Nation (K’ómoks); Gary Anandasangaree, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and Murray Rankin, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, marked a significant milestone toward renewing their nation-to-nation relationships.
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Vancouver Island Nations will have safer community access roads

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Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

35 years of excellence: 12 outstanding individuals honoured

Twelve individuals who exemplify excellence have been appointed to the Order of British Columbia in this special anniversary year.
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People in British Columbia honoured for dedication to service

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Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

New upgrades to Beaver Lodge support local recreation

A popular recreational forest area in the Campbell River area is receiving some much-needed upgrades.
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Minister’s statement on July Labour Force Survey results

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Labour

Income protection options expanded for child actors

Child actors in B.C.’s recorded entertainment industry will now have a choice between two options for protecting a portion of their income.
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Fair pay, basic protections coming for gig workers

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Mental Health and Addictions

New provincewide Opioid Treatment Access Line provides same-day access to care

The Province has launched the Opioid Treatment Access Line to make it faster and easier for people to get life-saving medication to treat opioid-use disorder and get connected to same-day care.
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Improved mental-health, addictions services available to Surrey youth

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Municipal Affairs

Water infrastructure upgrades across British Columbia

From Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2024/08/water-infrastructure-upgrades-across-british-columbia.html
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New low mobility trails unveiled at Pioneer Park

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Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Largest provincial investment in student housing coming to UBC

The largest provincial investment in on-campus student housing will lead to more than 1,500 new post-secondary beds on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus, as the Province continues to build homes for students at a record pace.
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More student housing opening at Okanagan College

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Public Safety and Solicitor General

New funding strengthens police work that combats online child exploitation

Police in B.C. will soon have more tools to enhance their efforts in protecting children online and strengthen abilities to pursue, disrupt and prosecute offenders.
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Model advances public safety, connects people to services in Campbell River

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Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Government taking action to help people out of poverty

People facing complex barriers will have better access to employment opportunities with the launch of wraparound services that support the most vulnerable on their path to employment readiness.
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Community funding boost makes more free, healthy food available

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Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

People in British Columbia honoured for dedication to service

Eighteen people in British Columbia are being honoured with the Province’s Medal of Good Citizenship for their extraordinary contributions to their communities.
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Province provides updates for FIFA World Cup 26

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Transportation and Infrastructure

Better transportation coming south of the Fraser as Surrey Langley SkyTrain approaches fall construction

Communities south of the Fraser River are one step closer to high-quality, low-cost transportation now that all three contracts have been awarded for the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project.
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New Highway 1 investment will get people home sooner

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Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Safety prioritized as water begins to overflow Chilcotin River landslide

Water has begun to overflow the landslide blocking the Chilcotin River near Farwell Canyon.
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Updates to management plan provide certainty for Sunshine Coast dock owners

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Finance

BCGEU members in the Public Service ratify agreement under the Shared Recovery Mandate

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Honourable Katrine Conroy

Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power Corporation, and the Columbia River Treaty

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Finance

Public accounts show B.C. put people first amid wildfires, global challenges

The Province supported people through a record wildfire season and a global economic slowdown in 2023-24, while continuing to build the schools, hospitals and homes people need.
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More help with everyday costs coming for more families

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Finance

BCGEU members in the Public Service ratify agreement under the Shared Recovery Mandate

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Members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) employed by the B.C. Public Service have ratified a new agreement under government’s Shared Recovery Mandate.

The agreement represents approximately 30,000 people working in occupations that provide core government services, such as environmental management, social services, and sheriffs and correctional officers in public safety, as well as the unionized members of the Liquor Distribution Branch, the BC Pension Corporation, Destination BC and the Royal BC Museum.

Key priorities of the 2022 mandate include:

• protecting the services that people in British Columbia depend on;
• improving health care and preparing for future needs and challenges; and
• supporting a strong economic recovery that includes everyone in B.C.

These negotiations are focused on providing a fair and reasonable offer to public-sector workers that includes significant inflation protection, while ensuring that government has the resources to continue to invest in building a stronger province for everyone.

The ratified agreement includes:

• Three-year term
• General wage increases
  • Year 1 – a flat increase of $0.25 per hour, which provides a greater percentage increase for lower paid employees (for BCGEU workers, an average of 0.76%) plus 3.24%
  • Year 2 – 5.5% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 6.75%
  • Year 3 – 2% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 3%

  Currently, there are just over 137,000 public-sector employees covered by tentative or ratified agreements reached under B.C.’s Shared Recovery Mandate.

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