B.C. Speech from the Throne outlines spending

The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Iona Campagnola, delivered a speech from the throne February 10, 2004.
Called “Bringing out the Best in B.C.,” the speech included several items that could affect the business prospects of consulting engineering firms. For example:
The government will be introducing legislation to modernize regulatory requirements in the environmental management, real estate and resource sectors.
In the area of transportation, the province will invest a further $17.2 million to the project to open up the Port of Prince Rupert. CN will contribute $15 million.
Prince George will be the headquarters of a $135 million Northern Development Initiative to be launched this year.
B.C. will encourage the federal government to complete its scientific review of B.C. offshore oil and gas opportunities and urge it to support those initiatives “in a scientifically sound, environmentally safe and socially responsible manner.”
Fifty per cent of all new power produced for BC Hydro will be from clean, alternative energy sources.
Looking forward to the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, the government plans to co-host a “Spirit of 2010 Business Summit” to bring together businesses and community leaders.
The government will be investing an additional $313 million in education over the next three years, and will add 25,000 new student spaces to universities, colleges, etc. by 2010.
The full text is posted at www.legis.gov.bc.ca/37th5th