September 2005 Events

PREMIER MEETS WITH MEXICAN PRESIDENT

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND B.C. SIGN AN AGREEMENT

PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO FIGHT CRYSTAL METH

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell today announced $7 million in additional funding and new initiatives to continue the fight against crystal meth, including new money for communities to fight the drug at the local level, a public awareness campaign, and the expansion of treatment across the province.

PREMIER CAMPBELL'S SPEECH TO UBCM

VANCOUVER — In his address to the 100th annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention, Premier Gordon Campbell today announced a number of initiatives to fight crystal meth, expand citizen-centered services, and support local governments and the UBCM.

PROVINCE SUPPORTS RAISE-A-READER LITERACY CAMPAIGN

ADDRESS TO FIRST NATIONS SUMMIT

PROVINCE DOUBLES CONTRIBUTION TO SQUAMISH LIL'WAT CULTURAL CENTRE

WHISTLER — The Province is doubling its support for the Skwxwú7mesh Lil'wat7ul (Squamish Lil'wat) Cultural Centre in Whistler with an additional $3 million in funding, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

PREMIER ANNOUNCES ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE COUNCIL MEMBERS

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell today announced the 11 members of the new Asia-Pacific Trade Council, which will advise government on how to leverage British Columbia's strengths to create new opportunities and new partnerships in key Asia-Pacific markets.

PROVINCE OUTLINES PLAN FOR FEDERAL PINE BEETLE FUNDING

VICTORIA — Federal funds aimed at helping B.C. respond to the mountain pine beetle epidemic will be used to help communities plan for the future, Premier Gordon Campbell and Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman announced today.

PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL AND ROLLIE FOX AT THE TERRY FOX HOMETOWN RUN

PREMIER WELCOMES CHINESE PRESIDENT ON FIRST VISIT TO B.C.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR B.C. COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

VANCOUVER — British Columbians are invited to celebrate the people who make a difference in their communities by nominating them for the third annual Community Achievement Awards, launched today by Premier Gordon Campbell and British Columbia Achievement Foundation chair Keith Mitchell.

PROVINCE PROCLAIMS TERRY FOX DAY IN B.C.

VICTORIA — Sunday, Sept. 18 has been proclaimed Terry Fox Day to honour the remarkable achievement and legacy of Terry Fox, who ended his Marathon of Hope 25 years ago this month, Premier Gordon Campbell announced in the legislature today.

B.C. TO HOLD SECOND REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM

VICTORIA — British Columbians will choose between a Single Transferable Vote system and the current first-past-the-post system in a second, more informed vote on electoral reform in November 2008, and whichever system prevails will be the one used in the next provincial election on May 12, 2009.

THRONE SPEECH LAUNCHES 38TH PARLIAMENT

VICTORIA — With today's throne speech launching the 38th Parliament, Premier Gordon Campbell said the provincial government is moving ahead with bold new initiatives aimed at improving B.C.'s political process and ending the inequities facing Aboriginal people.

PROVINCE ROLLS OUT BIKE LANE FUNDING

VANCOUVER — The Province is providing nearly $2 million to build approximately 31 kilometres of new bike lanes in British Columbia as part of a cost sharing agreement with local governments, Premier Gordon Campbell.

LITERACY FUNDING BENEFITS CHILDREN AND ADULTS

VANCOUVER — The Province will provide $1.34 million for 50 adult literacy programs and match all donations raised by The Vancouver Sun and Victoria Times-Colonist Raise-a-Reader campaigns in September, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today on International Literacy Day.

OPTIONS EXPANDED FOR OKANAGAN STUDENTS

KELOWNA — Premier Gordon Campbell recognized the official opening of the Okanagan's two new post-secondary institutions today — UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College — at a special event that included university presidents from Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore.

B.C. OFFERS ADDITIONAL HELP TO HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORT

VICTORIA — British Columbia is contacting the state governments of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi directly to offer assistance through additional search and rescue personnel and other resources, Premier Gordon.