Message from the Minister and
Accountability Statement

Over the next three years, the provincial government is investing over $2 billion to improve transportation throughout the province. It is the largest program of transportation improvements that British Columbia has ever seen.

One of our key challenges is to invest in the infrastructure we need to handle the tremendous growth in Asia-Pacific trade. Our geographic location is a natural advantage as the Pacific Gateway to North America but we need a strong transportation system to carry the growing traffic to and from our ports.

The provincial Gateway Program will invest in roads and bridges linking various ports, railways, airports and passenger transit points in the Lower Mainland. Gateway Program infrastructure will ease the bottlenecks in our overburdened transportation system and complement regional road and transit improvements already planned or underway.

We are also guided by the need to improve safety and reliability for travelers throughout British Columbia to support our communities’ resource industries and tourism. Under our three-year transportation plan, we continue to make transportation investments that make a difference.

The Premier’s Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade include creating more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada. Projects such as the new William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna, the Trans-Canada Highway – Kicking Horse Canyon improvements and the Sea-to-Sky Highway upgrades are supporting this goal by providing the infrastructure we need for a growing economy.

The pathways to success are our roads, rails, ferries, bridges, ports and airports; this service plan is our updated map.

The Ministry of Transportation 2006/07–2008/09 Service Plan was prepared under my direction in accordance with the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act. I am accountable for the basis on which the plan has been prepared. All material fiscal assumptions and policy decisions as of February 8, 2006, have been considered in preparing the plan and I am accountable for achieving the specific objectives in the plan.

Honourable Kevin Falcon
Minister of Transportation

February 8, 2006