News Releases — 2008
Dec. 11, 2008
PROVINCE MATCHES DONATIONS FOR CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
VICTORIA – The Province will match $273,300 in private donations raised at the B.C. Canada Pavilion in Beijing for victims of the May 12 earthquake in China, Premier Gordon Campbell announced.
[News Release]
Nov. 26, 2008
PREMIER’S STATEMENT ON ATTACKS IN MUMBAI
VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell released the following statement today in response to the acts of violence in Mumbai, India:
“On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to express condolences to the people of India and their loved ones here in British Columbia, following the series of terrible attacks that took place in Mumbai.
[News release]
Nov. 10, 2008 
ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Premier Gordon Campbell addresses media while attending a meeting of Canada's premiers and the Prime Minister in Ottawa to discuss the challenges facing the nation as a result of global economic turmoil.
Oct. 20, 2008 
PREMIERS PLEDGE TO WORK WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
Quebec Premier Jean Charest, Premier Gordon Campbell and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall meet with their provincial counterparts at the Oct. 20, 2008 Council of the Federation meeting in Montreal, where they pledged to work with the federal government to address challenges.
Oct. 1, 2008 
SAFE, SECURE COMMUNITIES FOCUS OF B.C.-ALBERTA MEETING
PRINCE GEORGE – An agreement that will see B.C. and Alberta co-operate to enhance community safety and team up to tackle gang crime and repeat offenders was one of the highlights of the sixth British Columbia-Alberta joint cabinet meeting, held in Prince George.
[News release]
July 22, 2008
PNWER CALLS FOR STREAMLINED TRADE, TRAVEL OVER BORDER
VANCOUVER – Getting the holders of enhanced driver’s licences across the border faster and allowing them to use their cards for North American flights are among the key recommendations to streamline cross-border travel and trade issued by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region today, announced John van Dongen, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
[News release] [PNWER Border Charter]
July 21, 2008 
PROVINCE OFFSETS TRAVEL EMISSIONS FOR PNWER DELEGATES
VANCOUVER – The Province will help make the 18th annual Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) summit a carbon-neutral event by offsetting the travel emissions for the estimated 800 delegates, Premier Gordon Campbell announced.
[Media Gallery] [News Release] [Fact Sheet]
July 21, 2008
SMARTTEC CALCULATOR
Joan McIntyre, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, uses a SMARTTEC Calculator to determine the greenhouse gas emissions associated with her trip to the 18th Annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Summit, in Vancouver, July 20-24. The Province committed to fund the offsets for all delegates who register using SMARTTEC. Almost 400 of the delegates registered, measuring 112 tonnes of CO2 emissions, for an offset cost of $2,795.
July 21, 2008
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION SUMMIT
Joan McIntyre, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, welcomes Saskatchewan to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region during the 18th annual PNWER summit in Vancouver.
June 30, 2008 
PACIFIC COAST LEADERS BUILD REGIONAL COLLABORATION
JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING – A new Pacific Coast Collaborative agreement between British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Alaska will forge a new partnership and a forum for leadership, cooperative action, and a common voice on issues affecting the Pacific coast region.
[News release]
June 20, 2008
BC-WASHINGTON WORK TO IMPROVE CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL
KELOWNA – Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will co-lead a mission to Ottawa and Washington to present a new joint Border Action Plan, signed today at the third annual B.C.-Washington Joint Cabinet Meeting. The plan calls for the Canadian and U.S. federal governments to continue to work with B.C. and Washington state to streamline cross-border travel and trade to avert mounting border line-ups as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games approach.
[News release] [Backgrounder] [ B.C.-WA Border Action Plan]
June 13, 2008
LE 150e ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE ET LE 400e DE LA VILLE DE QUÉBEC CÉLÉBRÉS SIMULTANÉMENT AU FRANCODÔME DE VANCOUVER
Un dôme géodésique de 30 mètres de diamètre sur le parterre de la Vancouver Art Gallery sera le théâtre de trois jours de célébration de l’art et de la culture francophones, tant d’hier que d’aujourd’hui et de demain. John van Dongen, ministre des Affaires intergouvernementales, inaugurait officiellement les lieux aujourd’hui.
[ Communiqué]
FRANCODOME CELEBRATES BC150, QUEBEC 400TH IN VANCOUVER
A 30-metre geodesic dome on the lawn of the Vancouver Art gallery is the site of a three-day celebration of francophone art and culture – past, present and future. John van Dongen, Minister of Intergovernmental Relations, announced the opening of the Francodôme today.
[News release]
June 13, 2008
CANADA, B.C. SEND CHINA $8 MILLION FOR RECOVERY, RECONSTRUCTION
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a two-phase $8-million project to provide temporary and permanent wood-frame buildings to help survivors of the recent earthquake in China.
[News release]
June 11, 2008
B.C., QUEENSLAND SIGN ECONOMIC RESEARCH AGREEMENT
British Columbia and Queensland, Australia, will work together to build relations on climate change action plans, education, biotechnology, and other key sectors, and strengthen connections in the Asia-Pacific.
[News release]
May 28, 2008
15 PEOPLE TO RECEIVE ORDER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Fifteen British Columbians who have contributed to the province in extraordinary ways will be awarded British Columbia's highest honour - the Order of B.C. - Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point, Chancellor of the Order, announced today.
[News release] [2008 Recipients] [ More information ]
May 19, 2008
B.C. AND GYEONGGI, KOREA BECOME SISTER PROVINCES
Premier Gordon Campbell signed a sister-province agreement with Governor Moon-Soo Kim of the Korean province of Gyeonggi that will see the two jurisdictions pursue economic and cultural partnerships and encourage twinning between municipalities.
[News Release] [Photo Gallery ]
April 22, 2008
VAN DONGEN SHOWCASES ENHANCED DRIVER'S LICENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
The successful launch of the B.C. Enhanced Driver's Licence program and the importance of a smooth border experience for travellers in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will lead the agenda of John van Dongen, Solicitor General and Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, as he travels to Washington, D.C. with a delegation from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER).
[News release]
Mar. 21, 2008
50 000 $ POUR VENIR EN AIDE AUX FEMMES FRANCOPHONES DÉMUNIES
Mar. 20, 2008, VANCOUVER – La Societé Inform’Elles recevra en 2008 une subvention de 50 000 $ du gouvernement provincial, en appui à son travail de soutien social et à ses services de soutien psychologique auprès des femmes francophones de la Colombie-Britannique. L’annonce en a été faite par le ministre d’État des Relations intergouvernementales, John van Dongen, lors d’un événement-bénéfice visant à recueillir des fonds pour cet organisme, qui s’est tenu hier soir.
$50,000 TO SUPPORT FRENCH-SPEAKING WOMEN IN NEED
VANCOUVER – Societé Inform’Elles Society will receive a $50,000 grant from the Province in 2008 to support its work delivering outreach and counselling services for French-speaking B.C. women. John van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, announced the Provincial support at a francophone community fundraising event for the society last night.
[Communiqué]
[ News release]
Mar. 11, 2008
LA JOURNÉE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE EN C.-B. CÉLEBRE LES ARTS ET LA CULTURE FRANCOPHONES
VICTORIA—Le 150e anniversaire de la Colombie-Britannique et le 400e anniversaire de la Ville de Québec seront soulignés conjointement par des artistes francophones de la Colombie-Britannique et de partout au pays, alors que le Francodôme s'installera en juin au centre-ville de Vancouver, grâce à un financement provincial de 30 000 $ consenti dans le cadre du 150e anniversaire de la Colombie-Britannique.
VICTORIA - B.C.'s 150th and Quebec City's 400th anniversaries will be celebrated together by francophone artists and performers from B.C. and across the country as $30,000 in provincial funding from BC150 brings the travelling Francodôme to downtown Vancouver in June.
[News release—la version français suit.] [ Backgrounder]
Mar. 11, 2008
HARPER, CAMPBELL HAIL CO-OPERATION IN DELIVERING FOR B.C.
LEADERS ANNOUNCE THREE NEW FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL AGREEMENTS
VANCOUVER—Prime Minister Stephen Harper and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell announced three important federal-provincial agreements today and hailed them as evidence of the exceptionally "collaborative and effective" relationship between their two governments.
[ News release ]
January 29, 2008
COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
Premier Gordon Campbell is joined by Minister of Environment Barry Penner as he addresses Canada's premiers at the Climate Change Adaptation Forum. The Council met for discussions on how Canada's provinces and territories can cooperate in meeting the challenges of global warming.
January 28, 2008 
PREMIERS GET TOGETHER AT COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION SESSION IN VANCOUVER
Premier Gordon Campbell is joined by his provincial and territorial counterparts, who are in Vancouver for a Council of the Federation meeting and a forum on Climate Change Adaptation.
January 21, 2008 
CANADA'S FIRST ENHANCED DRIVER'S LICENCE LAUNCHED IN B.C.
VANCOUVER – Canada’s first enhanced driver’s licences (EDLs) will be available in British Columbia for use by eligible B.C. residents driving to the United States, Premier Gordon Campbell and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced today.
[News release]
January 11, 2008 
ALBERTA AND B.C. SIGN AGREEMENTS TO FORGE CLOSER BONDS
Premier Gordon Campbell meets with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa during the Council of Federation gathering of provincial premiers.
