Our New Democrat BC Government, taking action for you since 2017

Our New Democrat government has been making choices to make life better for people across the province, unlike Kevin Falcon and the previous BC United government who chose only to help their wealthy friends at the top. Kevin Falcon will do it again.

Premier David Eby is in your corner. He and the New Democrat team are working to tackle the cost of living for people, improve the services you count on like health and education, and build a strong, sustainable economy that includes everyone.

Affordability and the Cost of Living | Healthcare, Mental Health and Addictions  | Housing |  Secure Economy | Climate Action and Environment | Reconciliation | Child Care, Children and Families | Education, Post Secondary and Future Skills  | Jobs | Public Safety / Safe Communities | Agriculture and Food | Arts, Sports, and Tourism   | Equity, Diversity and Human Rights  | Good Government | Rural Communities |  Poverty Reduction  | Transportation | Workers’ Rights 

Affordability and the Cost of Living 

  • Raised minimum wage to $16.75 per hour as of June 1, 2023. All future minimum wage increases will be tied to the annual inflation rate.
  • Created the largest middle-class tax reduction in a generation with the full elimination of MSP premiums and creation of the BC Family Benefit:
    • As a result, a family of four earning $60,000 will have their provincial taxes reduced by up to 60% compared to 2016, putting more than $2,500 back into this family’s pocket. A family of four earning $80,000 will have their provincial taxes reduced by up to 43%.
    • To help families facing rising costs due to global inflation, the BC Family Benefit was permanently increased in 2023, and an additional supplement was created for single-parent families. The benefit is based on income and family size, the average yearly payment is $2,250 per year.
  • Removed unfair tolls on the Port Mann Bridge and Golden Ears Bridge, saving commuters in the lower mainland up to $1,500 a year.
  • Cleaning up the financial mess at ICBC left by the BC Liberals, including transforming ICBC to deliver lower auto-insurance rates by an average of 20%  and dramatically improve care benefits for those injured in a crash. In addition to the significant savings on rates, we have issued rebates to most drivers.
  • Reduced child care fees for kids under 6 by an average of 50% from 2019 levels.
  • Launched the Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which since February 2018 have helped parents save up to $1,600 a month per child on their child care fees.
  • Since summer 2022, BC has provided almost $2.4 billion in cost-of-living benefits, including BC affordability credits, increase in BC Family Benefit, ICBC rebates, BC Hydro credit, and enhanced School Affordability Fund.
  • Made prescription birth control free for everyone in B.C., saving individuals up to $10,000 over their lifetime.
  • Created a new income tested renters’ tax credit that will put as much as $400 annually back into the pockets of B.C. renters with moderate and low incomes.
  • Increased the climate action tax credit by 70% compared to 2017, to put up to $500 back into the pockets of BC families by 2021 and then in 2020 boosted this tax credit in order to give an additional $450 back to families to support people during the pandemic.
    • The October 2022 payment will be boosted by up to $164 for eligible individuals and up to $41 per child, to help families with global inflation.
  • Gave BC Hydro customers a $100 cost-of-living account credit in December 2022.
  • Made transit free for kids 12 and under, saving families up to $700 per year.
  • Increased the senior’s supplement for the first time since 1987 which will support about 80,000 seniors.
  • Eliminated interest on British Columbia student loans, helping to ensure that students who have to borrow for their education don’t end up paying more than those who don’t.
  • Starting August 2023, weekly student loan maximums will be increased from $110 to $220 a week for single students, and from $140 to $280 per week for students with dependents.
    • At the same time, we are easing repayment by raising the income threshold under which a student does not have to repay their loan – from $25,000 to $40,000.
  • Took action to lower drug costs by making record investments in Fair PharmaCare, helping to negotiate a new national generics agreement, reducing and eliminating deductibles and expanding the use of biosimilar drugs.
  • Providing a $600 month rent supplement to help people with low incomes with rental costs in the private market
  • Expanding rental assistance for low-income families and seniors,
  • Introduced tougher rules on cheque-cashing fees and payday loan businesses to better protect consumers.
  • Created access to free menstrual products for public school students and vulnerable populations across B.C.
  • Made live-event ticket sales fairer, by eliminating ticket bots and mass-buying software, and by bringing in consumer protections and fairer processes for people.
  • Launched a comprehensive two-phased review of BC Hydro to clean up the mess of the previous BC Liberal government and keep rates low, allowing BC Hydro to reduce rates for the first time in decades.
  • Brought in greater transparency and accountability to how fuel is priced in B.C.
  • Made changes to strata insurance regulations to help address the rising cost of strata insurance in B.C. and bring further transparency to the industry.
  • Supported individuals and families to make ends meet during the pandemic with the B.C. Recovery Benefit, $1,000 for families and $500 for individuals.
  • Increased income and disability assistance rates three times since forming government in 2017 for a total of $325 per month.

 

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Health Care, Mental Health and Addictions

  • Launch of Health Human Resources strategy – including 602 new nursing seats and 2,800 nurses on path to have credentials recognized.
  • Dramatically boosting the number of MRI exams and elective surgeries as part of our Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy. Since 2016-17, the number of MRI exams has increased by 69% and wait times have been cut by more than half.
  • Launched the first of its kind early detection lung cancer screening program in Canada.
  • Increasing the number of priority surgeries and diagnostic imaging like PET and CT scans, to ensure faster access to these life-saving services.
  • Increasing staffing levels in long-term care homes to make sure seniors are getting the quality care they need and deserve.
  • Scrapped the “first available bed” policy for seniors looking for long-term care, so that families have more choice, and seniors have the option of waiting at home with additional supports.
  • Removed age restrictions on insulin-pump coverage, so that everyone who needs these devices to manage diabetes is able to live their lives to the fullest.
  • Took action to lower drug costs by making record investments in Fair PharmaCare, helping to negotiate a new national generics agreement and expanding the use of biosimilar drugs.
  • Introduced the most comprehensive regulations in the country on vaping products to protect youth.
  • Moving forward with a first-of-its-kind children’s complex care transition facility in B.C., to fill gaps in much-needed services and supports for children and young people with complex care needs.
  • Took action to improve ambulance responses times and better support paramedics and dispatchers so that when British Columbians call for help, they know it’s on its way, quickly.
  • Expanded travel support for people who need to travel to bigger cities for cancer care
  • Addressing systemic racism in B.C.’s health care system through training and education, and prioritizing the hiring of a health-care workforce that better represents B.C.’s diverse communities.
  • Created a stand-alone Ministry for Mental Health and Addictions to take province-wide action to combat the overdose crisis and help people living with mental illness and addictions.
    • Since 2017, we have been building a continuum of care for mental-health and substance use services, including more than 360 new adult and youth substance-use beds, and doubling the number of clinicians prescribing medication assisted treatment.
  • Budget 2023 included the biggest investment in mental health in B.C’s history with more than $1 billion in funding over the fiscal plan to ensure people living with mental health or addiction can find and stay connected to the care they need.
    • Includes adding more treatment and recovery services using the successful Red Fish Health Centre as a model.
  • Between the 2017 Budget Update through to 2021/22 this government has provided $608 million, including an additional $30 million in Budget 2019, to combat the overdose crisis, including:
    • Expanding access to life-saving naloxone kits
    • Funding pilot programs to help meet the increased demand for paramedics in rural and remote areas of B.C.
    • Funding 35 Community Action Teams (CAT) to provide on-the-ground support in response to the overdose crisis in the hardest-hit communities.
    • Supporting First Nations organizations and Indigenous Peoples in addressing the ongoing impacts of the overdose crisis in their communities.
  • Took action to end the shame and stigma that prevents people with substance-use challenges from reaching out for lifesaving help by decriminalizing the simple possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use.
  • Launched A Pathway to Hope, which lays out the BC government’s 10-year vision for mental health and addiction care that gets people the services they need in order to tackle problems early on and support their well-being.
  • Added 33 new and expanded substance-use programs specifically for young people.
  • Created complex-care housing spaces for up to 500 people throughout BC to support people who are facing overlapping mental-health and substance-use challenges, or trauma or brain injuries.
  • Launched a class action lawsuit against opioid drug companies, whose marketing practices have had devastating impacts on the lives of thousands of British Columbians. In summer 2022, the federal, provincial and territorial governments made a settlement agreement with Purdue Canada of $150 million. Further litigation is ongoing with other drug companies.
  • Expanded Foundry centres, with a total of 23 centres planned along with the Foundry App, giving young people and their families across B.C. access to a one-stop-shop to support their mental health and wellness.
  • Taking the lead in Canada by expanding access to safer supply, which will separate more people from the poisoned drug supply and help save lives.
  • Building a better network of mental health supports for youth including mental health programs in school and expanding the number of integrated child and youth teams. A total of 20 integrated child and youth teams will be implemented across the province by 2024.
  • Created 10 Community Transition Teams to offer support services for people leaving correctional centres with mental-health and substance-use supports as they transition back into the community.
  • Invested in each regional health authority to support evidence-based suicide prevention strategies that address unique priorities and gaps in care for people who may be suicidal.
  • Created culturally informed mental-wellness supports for Indigenous families through virtual parent and caregiver coaching.
  • Doubling the number of treatment beds for youth struggling with additions in BC.
  • Improving access and quality of eating disorder care and better access to suicide prevention services and early psychosis intervention.
  • Provided $14 million for the First Nation Health Authority to deliver mental health and addictions services to Indigenous peoples.
  • Invested $4.7 million in a therapeutic recovery community in Greater Victoria for men who have repeat experiences with incarceration, homelessness and addiction.
  • Increased access to community-based low- and no-cost mental health and substance use supports as part millions in grants awarded to community counselling programs throughout the province. Since 2019, nearly 25,000 people have had access to counselling services as a result.
  • Launched Here2Talk, a new free mental-health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students, available online or by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Created a digital mental health resource hub for workers in the tourism, hospitality and social services sectors that have been hard hit by the pandemic.

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 Housing

  • Implementing an ambitious 30-point housing plan to tackle the housing crisis and making the largest investment in housing affordability in B.C. history – more than $7 billion over 10 years – so that all British Columbians can find an affordable place to live:
  • Introduced the Housing Supply Act, to help deliver more good homes for people by establishing housing targets for specified municipalities to meet the critical housing needs of their communities.
  • Reining in short-term rentals, like AirBnB, to turn units into more long-term homes for people.
  • Speeding up the building of more homes near transit to create more liveable communities.
  • Removing zoning barriers to build more small-scale multi-unit housing, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes.
  • Taking action to help stabilize B.C.’s overheated real estate market, including:
    • Introduced the speculation and vacancy tax to, turn empty homes into available housing for people by targeting foreign and domestic speculators who own homes in B.C. but do not pay tax here. This has turned 20,000 vacant units into home for people.
    • Increasing the foreign buyers tax to 20% and expanding it to other urban areas.
    • Cracking down on tax fraud and closing real estate loopholes to make sure people are paying their fair share of taxes. This includes creating Canada’s first-ever pre-sale condo registry to crack down on flipping.
    • Taking action to end hidden ownership by requiring more information on beneficial owners and passing legislation to establish a publicly accessible registry of beneficial ownership.
    • Launching a public inquiry on money laundering in BC, after three independent reviews revealed that each year billions of dollars are laundered through our real estate market and other sectors of the economy.
    • New Unexplained Wealth Orders to crack down on criminal activity in real estate.
  • Took action to end hidden ownership with a new land-owner transparency registry
  • Improved transparency with new Condo and Strata Assignment Integrity Registry
  • Launched the Housing Hub to partner with non-profits and developers to deliver middle-income homes.
  • Introduced the Homebuyer Protection Period to protect buyers
  • Permitting Strategy for Housing to speed up provincial permitting
  • Partnered on Downtown Eastside Response Plan
  • Taking action to support renters
    • We capped rent increases in 2023 below inflation to 2%, providing significant savings for renters – more than $800 per year for a renter paying $2,000 a month, stopped illegal renovictions, and improved the dispute resolution process for tenants and landlords.
    • Took action to end  illegal renovictions by requiring landlords to apply for pre-approval before ending a tenancy for this purpose.
    • BC Housing helped a total of 32,800 households maintain their homes last year through rent subsidy programs such as the Rental Assistance Program, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters and other provincial rent supplements.
    • In November 2021, B.C. became the first Canadian jurisdiction to offer provincewide rent bank services. Rent banks provide interest-free loans for tenants in urgent circumstances so they do not lose their housing.
    • Closed the fixed-term lease loophole and the geographic rent increase loophole.
    • Making sure renters receive their security and pet deposits back in a fair and timely manner.
    • Improved tenancy rights for manufactured home park tenants.
    • Giving local governments a new rental zoning tool to give them the power to protect and encourage the building of rentals.
    • Provided support to local governments to develop housing needs reports.
    • Established of the Compliance and Enforcement Unit to ensure landlords and tenants abide to residential tenancy rules.
  • Creating opportunities for municipalities to be early adopters of innovative, sustainable mass timber building technologies.
  • Taking action on homelessness:
    • Since 2017, over 4,800 people who were homeless, or at risk of being homeless, have moved into new supportive housing units we’ve opened in more than 30 communities across the province.
    • In addition, nearly 2,300 supportive homes are underway, including over 700 homes coming to Vancouver, and more than 390 in Victoria.
    • Our government has invested in new initiatives aimed at helping prevent and reduce homelessness in the province. These investments include:
      • funding to build and operate more supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
      • new complex-care housing units, as well operating funding that will support complex-care services such as enhanced health, mental-health and substance-use services for people who need additional support beyond traditional supportive housing
      • regional multidisciplinary teams and temporary spaces to support rapid response for communities with substantive encampments in their area
      • expanding access to temporary modular supportive housing and provide more on-site support for people living in encampments, such as fire prevention, safety and sanitation, while housing gets built
      • expanding shelter and low-income assistance programs, including emergency shelters so that more people can access these essential supports
      • for people in temporary leased spaces as part of the Province’s pandemic response, funding to help provide continuing support, and a pathway to permanent housing.
    • Our Government is implementing Belonging in B.C., a plan to prevent and reduce homelessness. The plan adds 3,900 new supportive housing units and 240 complex-care spaces province-wide, and creates multidisciplinary regional response teams designed to rapidly respond to encampments to better support people sheltering outdoors move inside.

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Secure Economy

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Climate Action and Environment

  • Invested over $1.5-billion in CleanBC, B.C.’s plan to tackle climate change, putting B.C. on the path to a cleaner, brighter, low-carbon future, while creating more jobs and economic opportunities for people, businesses and communities.
  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government to affirm a joint commitment to power British Columbia’s natural gas production and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors with clean electricity.
  • Launched Move. Commute. Connect.: B.C.’s new strategy for cleaner, more active transportation, which aims to double the percentage of trips taken with active transportation by 2030.
  • Requiring all new light-duty cars and trucks in sold B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles by the year 2035, removing a major source of air pollution and emissions.
  • Providing rebates for electric vehicles to make it more affordable for British Columbians to make the switch to an EV.
  • Created CleanBC Better Homes, Better Buildings, a home and commercial retrofit program that saves households and businesses money by reducing energy bills and increasing energy efficiency.
  • Introduced “Right to Charge” legislation help remove barriers to EV charging in stratas.
  • Announced $36 billion investment in new community and regional infrastructure to deliver clean, affordable electricity to people and businesses, as part of BC Hydro’s 10-Year Capital Plan. The new construction projects are expected to support 10,500-12,500 jobs annually.
  • Requiring all new buildings in B.C. to be net-zero-energy ready by 2032, and all new government facilities to use 100% clean energy beginning 2022.
  • Retrofitting B.C.’s social housing stock and government buildings to make them more energy-efficient, safer for residents, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Took action to protect our environment, economy, and our coast from the drastic consequence of a diluted bitumen spill.
  • Created the Clean Coast, Cleans Waters Initiative and invested more than $13 million to fund the largest shoreline and coastal cleanup in BC’s history, removing more than 100 derelict vessels and over 127 tonnes of plastic waste from our natural environment.
  • Increasing the Climate Action Tax Credit by 14%, putting more money back in the pockets of low and middle-income families.
  • Introduced a new Oil & Gas royalty system, ending inefficient subsidies.
  • Created the CleanBC Industry Fund to invest carbon tax revenues in initiatives that will reduce emissions and support good jobs for people throughout British Columbia.
  • Eliminated PST on electric bikes and issued rebates for purchases.
  • In partnership with the federal government and BC Transit, invested in new buses to replace older, higher-emission buses, and meet the growing demand for public transit in BC.
  • Protected some of the province’s largest trees as the first step in a new approach to old-growth management.
  • Put an end to the grizzly bear hunt, ensuring the protection of one of B.C.’s most iconic species.
  • Took action to help ensure that disasters like the Mount Polley Mine tailings pond spill never happen again, by implementing science-based public oversight in the management of B.C.’s natural resources.
  • Modernized environmental assessment process to ensure that good projects that respect B.C.’s environment and the public are approved and that First Nations are involved meaningfully through the entire process.
  • Created the Wild Salmon Advisory Council which developed a made-in-B.C. Wild Salmon Strategy, as part of our government’s commitment to support restoring healthy and abundant wild salmon stocks in B.C. and are partnering with the federal government to fund projects to restore fish habitat and protect vulnerable wild Pacific salmon through the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.
  • Mandated better accountability, transparency and more detailed targets for climate action under a new Climate Change Accountability Act – the first of its kind in Canada – to make sure our province is on track for long-term emission reductions.
  • Engaged with British Columbians to seek feedback on how the Province can reduce and recycle more plastics, including those that would otherwise end up in our landfills, environment and water systems.
  • Appointed an independent Climate Solutions Council to advise government and track progress on CleanBC initiatives to reduce pollution and create new opportunities for people around the province.
  • Created Together for Wildlife, a plan for the conservation and stewardship of B.C.’s wildlife, with a governing council to oversee the strategy.
  • Partnered with the federal and local governments on a new Organics Infrastructure Program, which will help communities divert organic waste away from landfills.
  • Rolled out a new heavy-duty vehicle efficiency program that will help lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help commercial truck drivers spend less money on fuel.
  • Released a new Hydrogen Strategy
  • Invested $10 million for the construction and operation of 10 hydrogen fuelling stations in the province, as well as three years of support for Hydrogen BC.
  • Taking action to prevent plastic pollution by regulating and limiting the use of single-use products such as shopping bags, cutlery, plastic straws and polystyrene foam take-out containers.
  • Promoting access and protecting nature with a historic investment of over $83 million in BC Parks for new campsites, expanded trails and strengthened management of the park system.
  • Adding more than 1,700 new campsites at provincial parks since 2017, to make it easier to explore the outdoors.
  • Invested $100-million in the Watershed Security Fund

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Reconciliation

  • Made Reconciliation a cross-government priority by mandating all ministries to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
  • Led B.C. to become the first province in Canada to enshrine the human rights of Indigenous peoples in law, through legislation that establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the foundational framework for reconciliation in B.C.
  • Made an historic agreement to share gaming revenue with B.C. First Nations starting in 2019, to ensure Indigenous peoples have the funding they need to invest in their communities.
  • Ensured Indigenous children and their families have better access to culturally enriched early learning with more than 600 new, free licensed child care spaces and expanded Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) programs in over 30 communities across the province.
  • Worked to transform treaty negotiations in B.C., to get results in a shorter timeframe that lead to prosperous, healthy and self-determining Indigenous communities.
  • Together with the federal government, recognized Wet’suwet’en rights and title and set out a process to negotiate an agreement on how to implement them, working towards resolving matters of rights and title outstanding for decades.
  • Partnered with the First Nations Justice Council to develop an Indigenous Justice Strategy and create Indigenous justice centres throughout B.C., to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in B.C.’s justice system.
  • Added a new professional standard that requires teachers to commit to truth, reconciliation and healing to ensure Indigenous students in British Columbia will be better supported and be more connected in school.
  • Approved curriculum for 18 First Nations languages to be taught in B.C. schools, with more in development.
  • Renamed four provincial parks and one watershed protected area to include a traditional Indigenous name, to reflect their historic and cultural significance.
  • Supported the revitalization and preservation of Indigenous languages through a $50 million grant to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
  • Provided $40 million to build and revitalize culturally safe, First Nations-run mental health and addictions treatment centres throughout British Columbia.
  • Provided dedicated funding to Aboriginal friendship centres for the first time, ensuring the continuity of these critical services for urban Indigenous peoples.
  • Led a ground-breaking government-to-government process to chart a path forward in the Broughton Archipelago, ensuring the safety of wild salmon and economic opportunities for First Nations and local communities.
  • Partnered with UBCM to create the Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation (UCPR) initiative, which funds projects that support urban reconciliation efforts.
  • Working with Indigenous communities to establish Indigenous courts throughout British Columbia, which offer alternative sentencing options that honour traditional cultural practices, support rehabilitation and acknowledge the impact the person’s actions have had on others.
  • Supporting the return of ancestral remains and cultural objects to First Nations through $2.5 million in grants and other repatriation activities.
  • Changing legislation and social work practice to keep families together and reduce the number of Indigenous children and youth in care, including:
    • Making changes to the Child, Family and Community Service Act to allow for greater information sharing and involvement by Indigenous communities in child welfare matters;
    • Ensured that family members receive equal pay to foster parents to help keep children in their communities and connected to their culture;
    • Ended the discriminatory practice of “birth alerts”.

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Child Care, Children and Families

  • Since the launch of Childcare BC in 2018, we’ve invested $2.7 billion in child care to build a strong foundation for the inclusive, universal child care system B.C. families need.
  • We have funded more than 30,500 new licensed child care spaces since July 2018, and more than 10,500 of these spaces are providing care for children right now.
  • We launched the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which since February 2018 have helped parents save up to $1,600 a month per child on their child care fees.
  • Beginning September 2023, we expanded fee reductions to families with preschool and school-aged families.
  • We have expanded the number of $10 a Day child care sites across BC. As of February 2023, there are 12,700 $10 a Day spaces.
  • Investing in Early Childhood Educators to train, recruit and retain these professionals. This includes:
    • Enhancing ECE wages by $6 per hour, bringing the median ECE wage to $28 per hour.
    • Providing bursaries of up to $5000 per semester to students completing ECE programs.
    • Creating 151 student spaces in ECE work-integrated programs, so people can obtain or upgrade their qualifications while working.
    • Prioritizing ECEs on the path towards permanent residency through the provincial nominee program.
    • Expanding a dual-credit program that allows Grade 11 and 12 students to earn high school and post-secondary credits while they start their training as ECEs.
  • Created more than 640 new, free licensed child care spaces in Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) programs that will benefit Indigenous families in over 30 communities throughout the province. Through Budget 2021 we will be supporting an additional 400 Aboriginal Head Start child care spaces.
  • Amended the School Act to allow school boards to directly operate before and after school care on school grounds. Having child care on school grounds means smoother pick-ups and drop-offs for parents, and an easier transition for kids.
  • Introduced legislation that recognizes the value of the child care workforce by creating a stand-alone statute for Early Childhood Educators and provides more transparency and accountability as we continue building on our progress towards an inclusive, universal child care system.
  • Gave foster parents and other caregivers a boost in support payments – the first increase in a decade – to provide more support to some of B.C.’s most vulnerable children and adults.
  • Ensured family members get equal pay to foster parents when they care for children through the Extended Family Program so that Indigenous children can be cared for in their communities.
  • Increased funding and supports for youth from government care transitioning to adulthood by:
    • Providing a $600 month rent supplement to help with rental costs in the private market
    • Creating a new no-limit earnings exemption that means youth from care will not see a reduction in their benefits for working, gaining skills and earning income.
    • Hiring Youth Transition Support Workers who will support youth in care starting at age 14 and guide them in accessing services until they are 25.
    • Providing smartphones to 4,000+ youth in government care, increasing access to online services, resources, and opportunities
    • Removing barriers for former youth in care to access post-secondary studies at any age, by expanding free tuition.
    • Increasing the needs-based monthly support rate by up to $250, to a maximum of $1,250.
    • Allowing for year-round financial support, so young people can continue to receive supports during school program breaks.
  • Ended the discriminatory practice of hospital ‘birth alerts’.
  • Improving services for children and youth with support needs and their families by:
    • Increasing the medical equipment funding for children with complex care needs by $10 million annually – the first increase in 20 years – so that families aren’t having to pay out of pocket for crucial items like wheelchairs and lifts.
    • Expanding the province’s program of respite care for families with children who have support needs, benefiting more than 1,300 additional families.

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Education, Post Secondary and Future Skills

  • In 2022-23 we invested $7.4 billion in learning for K-12 students, which is $1.8 billion more than the previous government committed in 2016-17. This includes:
    • More EAs in classrooms
    • More funding for students with special needs
    • Targeted funding to support Indigenous and rural students
  • Budget 2023 commits $3.4 billion for capital school projects over the next three years – this includes:
    • New and expanded schools
    • Seismic upgrades to keep kids safe
    • Maintenance
    • Playgrounds
    • Property purchases for future schools
  • Invested $214 million to create and expand local school food programs across the province through Budget 2023. This will help make sure students are fed and ready to learn, and ease inflation pressures on families.
  • The Student and Family Affordability Fund provided $60 million for the 2022/23 year to help families deal with the rising cost of living. The fund will make sure students have access to meals and have the supplies they need, as well as helping with the cost of field trips and other fees.
  • Funded 231 new playgrounds at schools across the province since 2017, through an annual fund designed to relieve the fundraising burden on parents.
  • Negotiated a BC Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) with Indigenous education rights-holders that commits the federal government to provide an additional $100 million over 5 years and guarantees equal per-pupil funding of on-reserve Indigenous students with local school district students – the first and only such agreement of its kind in Canada.
  • To support a safe return to school for fall 2021, our government provided $43.6 million for enhanced cleaning measures, support for First Nations and Métis students, mental health services, and rapid response teams.
  • Launched a K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan to empower students and teachers to identify racism and discrimination and take action.
  • Became the first jurisdiction in Canada to require all public schools to provide students with equitable, stigma-free access to free menstrual products in school washrooms.
  • Approved a curriculum for 18 First Nations languages to be taught in B.C. schools, with more in development.
  • Introduced a new high school graduation requirement focused on Indigenous perspectives, histories and cultures.
  • Reestablished needs-based student grants, which were cancelled by the BC Liberals, to make post-secondary education and training more affordable for thousands of students throughout B.C.
  • Restored tuition-free Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning, removing roadblocks set up by the BC Liberals for people wanting to upgrade and pursue their dreams.
  • Eliminated interest on British Columbia student loans, helping to ensure that students who have to borrow for their education don’t end up paying more than those who don’t.
  • Funded 27,000+ apprenticeship and foundation training seats in public and private institutes in Budget 2019 to ensure B.C. has the skilled workers we need.
  • Launched a new $20 million training program so people can get the skills they need to help them find good jobs as the economy recovers.
  • Provided emergency funding so students have access to assistance to help them cope with the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.
  • As part of our commitment to add 2,900 tech seats by 2023 at public post-secondary institutions, we funded 1,900 tech seats in 2020-21 throughout the province.
  • Eliminated post-secondary tuition and provided additional funding for living expenses for former youth in care, up to age 27. As of March 2021, 1,565 former youth in care have been able to attend post-secondary and work towards their dreams.
  • Invested nearly $14 million to help thousands of youth, women and under-represented groups to get apprenticeships and employment in the skilled trades.
  • Investing in more programs for health care workers so people can begin rewarding careers and so that the health care system has the skilled work force it needs to provide care.
  • Funded the first Indigenous law degree program in all of Canada at UVic – answering Article 50 of TRC.
  • Invested $12 million to support graduate degree scholarships for Masters and Doctoral degree students.
  • Adding 2,900 new tech-related seats at public colleges and universities in new and expanded programs across the province.
  • Eliminated post-secondary tuition and provided additional funding for living expenses for former youth in care, up to age 27. With this elimination of fees, so far over 1119 former youth in care have been able to attend post-secondary and work towards their dreams.
  • Invested in open education resources including more open textbooks for students and instructors, reducing the burden of cost and levelling the playing field for students at post-secondary institutions across the province.
  • Invested funding for new skills training and employment programs for survivors of violence and abuse, older workers, adult learners and people facing multiple barriers to employment to empower people to achieve their educational and professional goals.
  • Expanded program spaces and bursary funding for those wanting to pursue a career in child care as an early childhood educator (ECE), as part of the Province’s commitment to create a universal child care system in B.C.
  • Created the first nursing degree program in the Northeast and increased funding to create a number of additional seats in programs such as: occupational and physical therapy,  and trades.
  • More than doubled the number of specialty nurse training opportunities in the province by funding 1,000 seats each year at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
  • The first province in Canada to develop an Electric Vehicle Maintenance Training Program to make sure the province’s workforce has the skills and training needed to support more electric vehicles on the road.
  • Opened new state-of-the-art facilities to support SFU sustainable energy engineering students, students preparing for careers in the health and social services sectors at Camosun College with the Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness and Selkirk College trades students.
  • Launched a sexual violence prevention campaign at all of British Columbia’s public post-secondary campuses to educate students, faculty, staff and the broader public about consent, because people deserve to feel safe and free from potential sexual violence.
  • Provided $9 million to expand co-op and work-integrated learning at post-secondary institutions so students will have more opportunities to gain real-life, relevant work experience that will give them a leg-up in their careers.
  • Launched a made-in-B.C. certification system to support higher-paying, more stable work for trades workers and to help build the foundation of a strong economic recovery.

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Jobs

  • Creating tens of thousands of jobs in communities around B.C. with more than $20 billion building hospitals, schools, and transportation projects — the largest infrastructure investment in B.C.’s history.
  • Ensured good-paying jobs, better training and apprenticeships, and more trades opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and youth in key public-sector infrastructure projects in B.C. through Community Benefits Agreements.
  • Building an innovation corridor that will drive economic growth and create good jobs and opportunities for people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley, including establishing a Quantum Algorithms Institute at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus which will position B.C. as a world leader in this emerging field.
  • Supported job creators by cutting the small business tax rate by 20 per cent.
  • Ensuring that more B.C. logs are processed in B.C., creating jobs for British Columbians by applying a new, targeted fee-in-lieu of manufacturing for exported logs harvested from a coastal BC Timber Sales license.
  • Investing in the development of B.C.’s clean energy vehicle (CEV) sector, creating good jobs and supporting low-carbon innovation through the CleanBC Advanced Research and Commercialization (ARC) program.
  • Providing 5,000 jobs for youth and young adults in the growing tech sector, environment and natural resource fields through almost $45 million StrongerBC Future Leaders Program.
  • Secured new shipbuilding contract to support the industry and a strong economy recovery by bringing 1,400 professional and skilled jobs to BC.
  • Creating an easier path for internationally trained professionals to work in their chosen careers and fill crucial skills shortages in B.C.

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Public Safety / Safe Communities

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Agriculture and Food

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Arts, Sports, and Tourism

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Equity, Diversity and Human Rights

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Good Government

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Rural Communities and Forestry

  • 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.
  • Working with the federal government to invest nearly $230 million to build arenas, community centres, and other infrastructure projects in communities across rural and northern BC.
  • Increasing the value of each log we take out of the forest, by processing more B.C. logs on the coast and redirecting wood waste to B.C.’s pulp and paper mills, as part of the Coast Forest Sector Revitalization Initiative.
  • Launched a regionally driven renewal of the province’s Interior forest industry, aimed at developing a competitive, sustainable future for forest companies, workers and communities.
  • Allocated $69 million to fund a new series of measures aimed at supporting British Columbia forest workers impacted by mill closures and shift reductions in several B.C. Interior communities.
  • Creating more jobs across BC with over $27 million in project grants to support 38 projects that will help increase the use of wood fibre that otherwise would have been burned as slash.
  • Made changes to the Forest Act to make sure that British Columbians are first in line to benefit from our publicly owned forests, increase wood processing at BC saw mills, and ensure that the First Nations, workers and communities have more say in how our forests are managed.
  • Taking a new, holistic approach to protecting B.C.’s old-growth forests by implementing the recommendations of the old-growth report, deferring 2.1 million hectares of old-growth forest harvesting in ten areas through the province, including Fairy Creek, protecting up to 1,500 exceptionally large, individual trees under the Special Tree Protection Regulation, and transforming B.C.’s forestry industry.
  • Expanded high-speed internet for people living in over 500 rural and remote communities, including 87 Indigenous communities through our Connecting British Columbia program – helping to diversify economic opportunities in rural communities.
  • Introduced a COVID-19 intake to the Connecting British Columbia program for rapid projects to immediately increase connectivity to underserved rural and indigenous communities. Between April and June, 47 projects increased internet capacity to 123 communities.
  • Increased jobs and opportunity for BC’s forest communities by proactively adopting building code changes allowing the safe construction of taller wood buildings.
  • Reinvesting in the northwest with a $100 million grant to address long-standing infrastructure needs in four regional districts (Fraser Fort George, Bulkley Nechako, Kitimat Stikine and North Coast) and their 22 municipalities.
  • Signed a bilateral agreement with the federal government to provide up to $6 billion in funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan over the next decade for infrastructure projects in BC.
  • Provided over $675,000 to the Cannabis Business Transition Initiative to help cannabis producers in the Kootenays transition to the legal market.
  • Encouraging more food and beverage processing in B.C. through 6 regional food hubs that will provide local food producers and processors access to the expertise and equipment needed to grow their business
  • Expanded the Export Navigator initiative to help more rural business owners in B.C. get their goods to international and interprovincial markets.
  • Working in collaboration with Indigenous peoples to seize new clean energy and economic development opportunities, such as a geothermal energy project permit to the Fort Nelson First Nation.
  • Collaborating with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to provide temporary housing near medical facilities in Prince George and Fort St. John for those who are travelling from remote communities.
  • Expanded travel support for people who need to travel to bigger cities for cancer care.

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Poverty Reduction

  • Historic investment in food security of more than $200 million to ensure people have better access to an increased supply of affordable, local food.
  • Increased the minimum wage to $16.75/hour beginning June 1, 2023, benefitting around 400,000 workers – the majority of whom are women, immigrants or youth – and their families.
    • The minimum wage is now tied to B.C.’s annual inflation rate.
  • Increased earnings exemptions for people on income and disability assistance, so they can earn more without having their assistance payments reduced.
  • For the first time since 2007, the shelter rate will increase by $125 per month starting July 2023. This increase will help approximately 160,000 people, including 33,000 children, throughout BC.
  • BC provided financial supports for Ukrainian families arriving in BC.
  • New provincial grants of $16.2 million to help youth train for jobs in the health and social services sector as youth peer support workers through Foundry BC.
  • In 2019, BC made menstrual products free for students in school washrooms.
  • Launched TogetherBC, British Columbia’s first poverty reduction strategy, which sets a path to reduce overall poverty in B.C. by 25% and child poverty by 50% by 2024.
  • Invested $26 million in income and disability assistance enhancements to the B.C. Employment Assistance program to help remove barriers to accessing support.
  • Updated income and disability assistance policies to remove barriers and make it easier for people to get help when they need it most. These simple and supportive changes are a move away from the mean-spirited policies of the past and will allow people to access essential services and keep them from falling further and further behind.
  • Introduced the Disability Transportation Supplement, which can be used for a BC Bus Pass – a program cruelly taken away by the BC Liberals.
  • Increased income and disability assistance rates three times since forming government in 2017 for a total of $325 per month.
  • As part of TogetherBC, provided $5 million to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) for the Poverty Reduction Planning & Action program to help municipalities and community organizations identify their most pressing local issues and develop local solutions in the fight against poverty.
  • Increased the daily rates for eligible income assistance clients living at registered or licensed residences for the first time in 10 years.
  • Provided $6 million to create the Homelessness Community Action grantto help prevent homelessness and support organizations on the ground address homelessness in their communities.
  • Contributed $10 million to the Vancity Community Foundation to develop a sustainable, province-wide rent bank system to support renters facing financial difficulties to avoid evictions and prevent homelessness.
  • Provided support for the community social services sector, with $10 million in one-time funding to support recruitment, retention and occupational health and safety training programs for staff.
  • Provided over $8.4 million to advance reconciliation in the BC community social services sector.
  • Provided $15 million to the First Nation Well Being Fund, supporting First Nations in their efforts to promote well-being, improve the quality of life for members, and reduce poverty at the community and Nation level.

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Transportation

  • Removed unfair tolls on the Port Mann Bridge and Golden Ears Bridge, saving commuters in the lower mainland up to $1,500 a year.
  • With the Broadway Subway project, we are bringing SkyTrain access to one of the busiest corridors in Metro Vancouver, reducing congestion while making commuting faster and easier.
  • The Surrey Langley SkyTrain project, the first rapid transit expansion south of the Fraser River in over 30 years, will extend the Expo Line from King George Station to Langley City Centre, provide high-quality, low-cost transportation for people in Surrey and Langley.
  • Froze ferry fares on all major BC Ferries routes, reduced fares on smaller routes, and restored the 100% Mon-Thurs seniors discount.
  • Restored service to 10 ferry routes that were cut by the BC Liberals in 2014.
  • Amended the Coastal Ferries Act to put people at the centre of BC Ferries’ decision-making.
  • Launched a new BC Bus North service in response to Greyhound’s decision to eliminate service on routes in northern B.C., ensuring people in the North have access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation.
  • Retained over 83% of Greyhound’s long-haul bus routes by working with local service providers and fast-tracking applications. And we’re continuing to work on addressing service gaps across B.C.
  • Put ride-hailing regulations in place that will focus on passenger, driver and company safety, and will allow companies to apply to the Passenger Transportation Board in September 2019, with companies expected to be operating by the end of the year.
  • Funding 40% of the capital costs of the Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision to ensure we’re investing in a modern, integrated and affordable transit system that is crucial as Metro Vancouver grows, including:
    • Five new RapidBus routes to serve 11 communities, beginning in January 2020. Two additional RapidBus routes are expected to launch in 2021 to serve Surrey, Delta and Richmond, with five more routes planned for Phase Three.
    • 200 new SkyTrain cars to replace 150 ageing cars and increase capacity, 40,000 additional bus service hours, and 10-minute SeaBus sailings increasing capacity by 50% during peak hours.
  • Fully funded the Pattullo Bridge replacement, bringing commuters one step closer to a modern, safer crossing. Building with a CBA to provide good-paying jobs to local people and address the skilled trades shortage.
  • Six-laning Highway 1 from 216th to 264th St, with new HOV lanes connecting commuters from Aldergrove to Burnaby.
  • Launched Move. Commute. Connect.: B.C.’s new strategy for cleaner, more active transportation, which aims to double the percentage of trips taken with active transportation by 2030.
  • Changing the Motor Vehicle Act to allow for the launch of mobility technology pilot projects, like e-scooters, electric unicycles or e-skateboards.
  • Making it more convenient to drive electric vehicles by creating one of the largest public charging networks in Canada, with more than 4,800 stations across B.C.
  • Provided $1 billion in partnership with the federal government to TransLink, BC Transit, and BC Ferries to ensure people continue to have access to safe, reliable and affordable public transportation options despite the decrease in ridership due to the pandemic.
  • Invested $479 million in TransLink to help protect transit service levels and keep fares stable.
  • Rebuilt the Coquihalla highway to be more stable and climate-resilient after the washouts during the November 2021 storms.
  • Moving forward on a toll-free, eight lane replacement for the Massey Tunnel, improving travel for people along Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta.

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Workers’ Rights

  • Introduced 5 days of paid sick leave per year for B.C. workers.
  • Created a Temporary Foreign Worker Registry to better protect temporary foreign workers against exploitation and abuse.
  • Introduced government licensing requirements for foreign worker recruiters.
  • Amended the Workers Compensation Act to allow firefighters, wildfire firefighters, fire investigators, and firefighters working for First Nations and other Indigenous organizations easier access to workers’ compensation.
  • Improved and simplified the process by which workers can make complaints to the Employment Standards Branch, and got rid of the BC Liberals’ “self-help kits”.
  • Made the most significant improvements to the Workers Compensation Act in more than two decades.
  • Improved BC’s Employment Standards Act to:
    • better protect children and youth from dangerous work;
    • make it easier for workers to get help when they feel their rights have been violated;
    • provide more job protection to people dealing with difficult personal circumstances; and
    • ensure people are paid the wages they are owed — and that those that violate the law do not have an unfair advantage.
  • Taking action to bring fairness and predictability to app-based jobs like ride hailing and food delivery with new proposed standards as the sector continues to expand.
  • Expanding workers’ compensation benefits and support services for fire fighters who develop work-related cancer.
  • Supporting the long-term sustainability of defined benefit pension plans.
  • Introduced legislation to develop accessibility standards in order to identify, remove and prevent barriers in workplaces, government buildings, and the built environment to ensure all British Columbians can participate more fully in their communities.
  • Changed hard hat rules to make workplaces more inclusive for people who wear religious head coverings without compromising workplace safety.
  • Took action to help close the gender pay gap by requiring employers to share transparent wage information on job postings.

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We’re going to keep working for you to fix problems, get results for people, and together, build a better future for everyone in British Columbia.

Affordability and the Cost of Living | Healthcare, Mental Health and Addictions  | Housing |  Secure Economy | Climate Action and Environment | Reconciliation | Child Care, Children and Families | Education, Post Secondary and Future Skills  | Jobs | Public Safety / Safe Communities | Agriculture and Food | Arts, Sports, and Tourism   | Equity, Diversity and Human Rights  | Good Government | Rural Communities |  Poverty Reduction  | Transportation | Workers’ Rights  

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