Pat Bell's Top Ten Celebrates 350th Edition

Friday, March 12, 2010 01:46 PM

A Bright Future for B.C.

Steady as she goes!

That is really the theme of our most recent budget and Throne Speech and I’m encouraged by the level of support that I’m hearing for both. During these challenging economic times, we need to remember to manage within the resources we have and while that means difficult decisions, I’m confident our priorities of reducing debt and focusing on the services that people really need are the right strategies.

I believe that communication is key for anyone in political life and for that reason I produce a weekly email called “Pat’s Top 10”. I focus on initiatives that you might not hear about in the mainstream media and especially on items that are important to residents of Prince George and Mackenzie. While I normally deliver this weekly Top 10 by email, I present to you this copy of what is really a “Highlights” Top 10 to celebrate eight years and 350 editions.

To subscribe, please email me at Pat.Bell.MLA@leg.bc.ca and I’ll make sure you have all the facts and information

you need about our Provincial Government.

Pat Bell, MLA

Prince George–Mackenzie

01 Prince George Airport Runway Extension Officially Opened:

Opened on February 20, 2009, the new PG airport runway is now the third longest commercial runway in Canada and is equipped to service international air cargo carriers.

02 Mackenzie-Fort St. James Connector:

More than $10 million in infrastructure funding will upgrade the Mackenzie Connector, bringing immediate good quality stimulus jobs and long-term regional economic development to local communities.

It assists forestry with the transportation of a wider availability of wood fibre and assists mining by boosting progress with the Mount Milligan project.

03 McLeod Lake Band and Mackenzie Celebrate Community Forest:

In August, I joined with McLeod Lake First Nations Band Chief Derek Orr and Mackenzie Mayor Stephanie Killam to celebrate B.C.’s newest Community Forest. This will generate employment ranging from enhanced silviculture to finished wood products and gives the communities direct management of specific natural and recreation areas.

Community forest agreements are area-based tenures that enable communities to fully participate in the stewardship and harvesting of local Crown forest resources.

04 Prince George Celebrates Simon Fraser Bridge Completion

The Simon Fraser Bridge is a key component of our Cariboo Connector strategy and the continued development of Prince George as a major transportation hub. The twinned Simon Fraser Bridge doubles the number of lanes from two to four.

The Province provided $27 million as part of the $240 million first phase of the Cariboo Connector strategy; initiated as part of a long term plan to four–lane the 460 kilometres of Highway 97 between Prince George and Cache Creek.

05 New Transmission Line Along Highway 37 Announced:

A new transmission line along Highway 37 will help to stimulate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars worth of economic activity for British Columbia, including support for new mines with vast mineral potential and

increased use of the Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal.

It will provide significant environmental benefits by building on British Columbia’s longstanding tradition of fostering the generation and transmission of clean, renewable electricity.

06 $19.7 Million CNC Technical Education Centre

The College of New Caledonia is growing, a sign of their success in offering quality training and skills development. A ground breaking that announced the new $19.7 million Technical Education Centre took place this past October. To be completed by February, 2011, this project will create 126 direct jobs.

07 Boundary Road Connector:

Planning is underway for the Boundary Road Connector between Highway 97 and Highway 16. This will provide access to the planned Airport Light Industrial and Logistical Park at the Prince George Airport.

08 Forest Industry Trade Mission to China and Japan:

As Forests Minister, I led the largest-ever forestry mission to China and Japan to promote wood frame construction and boost demand for B.C. forest products. Major breakthroughs from this resoundingly successful mission included:

• The launch of the Shanghai government wood-frame building code

• An agreement with the Shanghai Housing Bureau to demonstrate the benefits of wood for affordable housing

• A groundbreaking ceremony in Tokyo for the largest ever 2 x 4 wood frame construction project in Japan

• Exports this year are likely to top 1.5 billion board feet of lumber and we are on track to reach 4 billion board feet by the end of 2011.

09 Construction Completed: Highway 16 Domano/Tyner Intersection Project

The Highway 16-Domano/Tyner Intersection upgrades are now complete. Along with the newly twinned Simon Fraser Bridge, improvements ensure safer travel for both residents and visitors and position the area for further economic expansion.

10 Cancer Centre for the North:

The final partnership has been signed for the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North to open in September 2012.

The new 54,000 square foot Centre for the North will include two linear accelerators, which are used in the delivery of radiation therapy; one computerized-tomography (CT) simulator; a chemotherapy treatment unit; a pharmacy; general outpatient clinics; offices; and a parkade. The center’s construction reflects the importance of our region’s forest industry, and will be built with 2/3 of a million board feet of lumber.

For more information and to sign up to

For more information and to sign up to receive the Top Ten every week visit:

www.PatBellMLA.bc.ca

Get in touch with Pat

PG Office: 103-770 Central Street, Prince George, BC V2M 3B7

Tel: (250) 612–4194

Fax: (250) 612–4191

Mackenzie Office: Box 2125–#131C, 403 Mackenzie Blvd., Mackenzie, BC

Tel: (250) 997–5281

Fax: (250) 997–5631

Email: pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca

Website: www.PatBellMLA.bc.ca