As we look
towards our recovery from the pandemic, we have an opportunity to build our
province back better. We must make sure our economy works for everyone, not
just those at the top. We need to ensure that the care and services that people
count on are available when and where they need them. And our recovery must
support our climate action goals, in line with our CleanBC strategy.
I want to share with you a few of the actions our New Democrat government took this week:
This week we announced that more than 100 new publicly funded spaces will be available in addiction treatment and recovery programs. The overdose crisis has impacted every community across B.C., and we have more to do to support people who are struggling with substance use issues. These new spaces will allow more people to start their path to recovery and get the care they need in a safe and supportive environment.
Part of our StrongerBC Economic Recovery Plan is investing in training and education programs so people can upskill or reskill to take advantage of high-demand jobs. In recent days our government announced over $20 million for programs that will help people get the skills they need, including short-term skills training in areas like technology, manufacturing, hospitality, horticulture, and automotive trades. We also announced new micro-credentials at 15 of B.C.’s post-secondary institutions, allowing people to quickly gain qualifications or improve their skills in fields like health and human services, construction maintenance, and climate action.
Keeping our water and coastline clean helps make our communities stronger and more resilient. This week we announced that over 127 tonnes of plastic, garbage, and fishing gear have been removed from B.C. shorelines as part of our Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative. Through this effort we provided employment to 180 people, including Indigenous people and those in the tourism sector, who have been particularly impacted by the pandemic. We also recently announced an additional $9.5 million in funding for more projects like this in 2021.