Weekly newsletter from MLA/Minister Conroy
By Katrine Conroy
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the many ways the diversity, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples have shaped BC for the better. Today is an opportunity to listen, learn and honour Indigenous cultures, traditions, languages and histories.
Here are four ways you can celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day:
• Go to a public event
• Support Indigenous tourism, businesses or artists
• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action
• Learn about and acknowledge the traditional territory you live on
News release: Premier’s, minister’s statements on National Indigenous Peoples Day
Drop by the Rossland Museum – we’re open by donation all day! Check out our discovery kit about Indigenous basketry of the region, listen to recordings of oral history stories from Sinixt knowledge-keepers, and watch our new short film, Learning mxiɬp.
BC NDP MLA says grant will help speed up delivery of homes in Castlegar
We’re providing $4.4 million to support thirty-seven local governments including the City of Castlegar to help improve development approval processes and support non-profit housing organizations, developers and other partners to speed up the delivery of homes for people in B.C. We’ll continue to support local governments to make sure we can continue to deliver more homes for people, faster.
BC Housing and the City of Trail are working together to build a 25-bed shelter at 2039 Riverside Avenue. This is a response to the urgent need to support people experiencing homelessness in Trail. For more information on this site please regularly go to this link for more information and updates:
Trail – Riverside Ave. Shelter – 2039 Riverside Ave. | Let’s Talk Housing BC (letstalkhousingbc.ca)
BC Housing is working to open a year-round shelter with up to 20 beds at 2245 6th Avenue in Castlegar. This shelter is a response to the urgent need to support people experiencing homelessness in the community. Once open, this will replace the temporary winter shelter at 1660 Columbia Avenue. For more information on this site please regularly go to this link for more information and updates:
Castlegar – 2245 6th Avenue | Let’s Talk Housing BC (letstalkhousingbc.ca)
New rules help deliver housing faster in B.C.
New regulations are in effect to standardize and improve community planning in the province and make it easier to get more homes for people built faster. Historically, zoning processes can be drawn-out, costly, and restrictive, which hurts all members of the community. This shift involves more upfront community planning by local governments and improvements to outdated zoning rules, which will make it easier to increase different types of housing in the province.
New funding program helps protect people, communities from climate emergencies
We’re committed to protecting British Columbians from the impacts of climate change. People and communities will be better protected from natural and climate-driven emergencies with new support for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation projects in B.C.
The new Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program will support First Nation and local government projects that strengthen defenses against climate hazards like floods, drought, extreme heat, and landslides.
The deadline for 2024 is September 15th, 2024.
Eligible hazards include but are not limited to, drought and water scarcity, Erosion, Extreme Temperature, Flood, Geohazards (for example avalanches, landslides), Seismic, and Storms.
Learn more: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/…/local-emergency…/financial/drif
New funding will improve access to active transportation
More people will soon be able to leave their cars behind and choose active ways to get around efficiently and affordably across communities in British Columbia. We know that a large barrier to people using active transportation is not feeling safe. That’s why we’re building overpasses, trail networks, and bike lanes that will give a new generation new ways to travel within and between their communities.
Buy a BC Parks licence plate – Province of British Columbia
When you buy a BC Parks licence plate, you help preserve the places we love. 100% of funding from the Licence Plate Program goes towards BC Parks.
Violation ticket fines increasing to strengthen wildlife protection
Those who commit offenses that harm wildlife and fish, including illegal hunting and angling, will soon face higher fines. Fines under the Wildlife Act and its regulations have not been substantially updated in more than two decades. The new fine amounts better reflect the serious nature of these offenses and recognize the importance of wildlife to everyone living in British Columbia.
Education pathways support people needed for in-demand careers
People seeking academic upgrading to access high-demand post-secondary programs and meet their career goals will continue to benefit from tuition-free Adult Basic Education and English Language pathway programs across B.C. Many people want careers in in-demand jobs but face barriers to being eligible. By creating customized pathways for newcomers, we‘re ensuring better opportunities and a stronger economy for everyone.
B.C. improves access to supports for youth, young adults experiencing psychosis
Psychosis is a serious and often misunderstood mental illness that impacts about 1 in 30 people in B.C. By expanding Early Psychosis Intervention programs across the province, we’re helping more young people experiencing early signs of psychosis and their families get the support and treatment they need. This expansion includes increasing the number of programs across the province and hiring up to 100 more specialists to support the program.
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