B.C. Government Lays Out Vision for Post-pandemic Recovery in Throne Speech
On February 8, 2022, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin read the Speech from the Throne, outlining the province's vision for the next year.
The B.C. government is focusing on getting through the rest of the COVID-19 pandemic while committing to invest in safe workplaces, new schools, and lobbying Ottawa for more money for health-care.
Government has stated that in the year ahead, they will also fight climate change, help communities adapt to extreme weather, make everyday life more affordable, and ensure sustainable, economic growth.
Specific actions the government will take in the coming months include:
Tying minimum wage increases to the rate of inflation;
Protecting people buying homes in a volatile market by introducing a cooling-off period on home purchases;
Helping prepare people for the jobs of the future with a generational commitment to develop the talent B.C. needs over the next 10 years to close the skills gap;
Moving forward on Reconciliation by working to implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act through an action plan drafted in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples;
Recognizing British Columbians’ shared history by taking a major step towards establishing the first Chinese Canadian Museum in Canada and modernizing the Royal BC Museum; and
Improving management of B.C.'s land and resources by creating a new ministry to better support goals of reconciliation, economic development, and environmental protection.
The speech also sets up three significant announcements expected over the next two weeks.
Next week the province will be unveiling an economic recovery plan and provincial officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is likely going to announce an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
In two weeks’ time, the province will present a budget charting the financial road map to fulfill the commitments made by the government. TIABC will be at budget lock-up in Victoria and will provide a synopsis on the implications of Budget 2022 on the tourism sector.