BC to launch catch-up immunization program to protect against measles

20 March 2019

THE Province is launching a measles immunization catch-up program to help B.C. families ensure their children are protected from measles.

The program will run from April through June.

“With outbreaks of measles occurring globally and here in B.C., we know we will see threats of further outbreaks and can be doing more to raise immunization rates,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That is why we are launching a catch-up program to immunize children from kindergarten to Grade 12 who have not previously been immunized against measles and to provide a dose for those who may not have received both doses.

“Our goal is to immunize as many people as possible before the end of the school year. The purpose, ultimately, is to reach an immunization rate of 95% as recommended.”

Health authorities will deliver the program. The program will be made available in schools to children (from kindergarten to Grade 12), public-health units, community health centres and mobile community clinics in select regions. The program will be delivered similarly with some regional variations. By offering it in schools, public-health units and community health centres, the catch-up program is designed to make it simpler and stress-free for parents to ensure their children are adequately protected from measles. Pharmacists will also be part of the efforts to increase immunization rates.

“Safeguarding the health and well-being of children, staff and teachers who come into our classrooms and their family members at home is one of our highest priorities,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “The K-12 education system plays a critical role in raising awareness of the importance of childhood vaccines and increasing immunization rates. We are continuing to work across government, and with our education and health community partners, to help curb preventable outbreaks and increase student safety.”

For this catch-up campaign, the Province is initially purchasing $3 million in vaccine – the equivalent of a one year supply of vaccine.

The catch-up program is the first step in government’s two-phase plan to educate people about the importance of immunization and help them become aware of their immunization status. Offering the measles immunization catch-up program now will also help prepare parents for the mandatory reporting of vaccination status, which is planned for the fall of 2019.

“Very few people in B.C. are against all vaccinations,” said Dr. Brian Emerson, Deputy Provincial Health Officer. “Due to a variety of other factors, measles immunization rates in B.C. are lower than they should be to ensure herd immunity.

“With this catch-up campaign, we can really work to reach herd immunity where at least 95% of the population is vaccinated. It will also help better prepare parents to be aware of vaccination status, for when we introduce the next step of mandatory reporting of school-age children’s vaccination status this fall.”

Without a record of immunization (or proof of immunity to a disease), a person is considered unimmunized and unprotected and should generally be immunized or re-immunized to ensure protection. It is safe to repeat immunizations.

Parents should check their children’s immunization records to be sure they are up-to-date. If they are unsure or do not have the records handy, they can check with their primary care provider or public-health unit. Parents can provide their child’s records to their local public-health unit for entry into the provincial immunization registry. If a child’s current immunization record is already on file with the local health unit, parents do not need to provide it again.

Health authorities will be working with schools to notify parents of upcoming measles immunization catch-up clinics, information about measles and what to expect if your child needs a measles immunization. Health authorities will contact families with under or unimmunized children through a variety of actions, including direct-calling families, sending emails and letters, and working with schools on newsletters.

Dr. Eric Cadesky, President, Doctors for BC, said: “As doctors, our primary concern is the health of our patients and communities. We are fully supportive of efforts to improve access to vaccines that are safe and effective at preventing dangerous diseases.”

Geraldine Vance, CEO, BC Pharmacy Association, added: “Community pharmacists support the government’s commitment to increasing the rates of immunization for measles amongst B.C. families through the catch-up program. With pharmacies located in almost every community in the province and open evenings and weekends, pharmacists are available when patients need them to get the very important protection immunization provides for themselves and their communities.”

Quick Facts

* Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through the air.

* Close contact is not needed for transmission. The disease can also be spread through sharing food, drinks, cigarettes or kissing an infected person.

* Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the chest.

* Complications from measles can include pneumonia, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), convulsions (seizures), deafness, brain damage and death.

* Children should receive their first dose of measles vaccine at 12 months of age and their second dose at school entry (four to six years of age).

* B.C. has recommended two doses of measles vaccine to children since 1996.

* In 1996, B.C. conducted a measles vaccine campaign to provide a second dose of measles vaccine to children to the end of high school and university students.

* Measles vaccine is available in Canada in two combination forms only. Both are used in the B.C. publicly funded immunization program:
* The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to children at 12 months of age.

* The measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine is given to children at school entry (four to six years of age) and is the second dose of measles vaccine children receive. This combination vaccine can be given up to 12 years of age but is not approved for use in older adolescents nor adults.

Learn More:

To check on immunization status, or to find a public health unit anywhere in the province, visit: https://immunizebc.ca/finder

Learn more about measles and the vaccines at: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/measles

Vancouver Police warn about phone scam targeting the elderly

20 March 2019

VANCOUVER Police are warning the public after local seniors were defrauded out of $3.1 million in five different cases. In two cases, Vancouver Police Department investigators were able to recover just over $2.5 million of the stolen money.

In each case, a fraudster called an elderly person on a landline and pretended to be either an employee of a jewelry store or a police officer. The elderly person was convinced that their credit card had been fraudulently used for a large purchase or that police required their help with a fraud investigation. They were then advised to hang up and call their bank or 9-1-1 immediately.

The victims hung up the phone, picked it back up, heard a dial tone, and dialed either the bank or 9-1-1. However, the suspects never disconnected the line and it is believed they played a recording of a dial tone before answering and pretending to be either a police officer or a bank representative.

After a series of back and forth phone calls, the victims, still thinking the fraudster was either a police officer or a bank representative, were convinced to transfer large amounts of money to specific accounts overseas.

“Awareness is the key to preventing phone scams like this one. When you use a hardline phone, anytime you hang up there is an opportunity for someone to still be connected with you on the other line,” said Sgt. Jason Robillard. “Consider using a cell phone or make sure you are disconnected after you hang up.”

The investigation into these frauds is ongoing. Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not reported the fraud and are asking them to call Vancouver Police investigators at 604-717-0503. Anyone outside of Vancouver is encouraged to call their local police.

BC Hydro could do more to improve cybersecurity on its power system

19 March 2019

THE Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia has released a new report: Detection and Response to Cybersecurity Threats on BC Hydro’s Industrial Control Systems.

The audit found that BC Hydro is effectively managing cybersecurity risk by detecting and responding to cybersecurity incidents on the parts of its electric power system covered by mandatory reliability standards – standards that are accepted across Canada and the U.S. But components that do not fall under the mandatory standards may be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and should be monitored.

The components that BC Hydro is not looking at – generally equipment of lower power capacity – may allow cybersecurity incidents to cause localized outages and, in aggregate, could have a large effect on the overall power system.

“Cybersecurity is no longer only about prevention, but also about quickly detecting and responding to attacks.” said Carol Bellringer, Auditor General, on Tuesday. “A strong capability for cybersecurity monitoring and response is fundamental to good cybersecurity practice.”

The audit focused on how BC Hydro is managing the cybersecurity risks to its industrial control systems, which form an integral part of its electric power infrastructure. Through an extensive electric power system, BC Hydro provides electricity to 95% of the people in British Columbia. The system is considered “critical infrastructure” because it affects every aspect of life and is essential to the economy.

For security reasons, the office does not disclose findings that could expose details of BC Hydro’s power system. As such, the office provided BC Hydro with a detailed technical report that specifically outlines the findings and recommendations.

Overall, the office made three recommendations in its report around assessing the cybersecurity risks, maintaining an inventory of BC Hydro’s hardware and software components, and implementing detection mechanisms and monitoring, in real time.

The full report is available on the Office of the Auditor General website at: www.bcauditor.com

Federal budget fell short of addressing fundamental issues affecting BC business: BC Chamber of Commerce

19 March 2019

TUESDAY’S federal budget fell short of addressing the fundamental issues affecting BC business, says the BC Chamber of Commerce. And, while there were some small wins in the budget, it failed to address key issues like global tax competitiveness, reduced business confidence, and a slumping investment in BC businesses.

“Our 2018 Collective Perspective Survey showed that confidence in the BC economy is declining in 50% of BC businesses. The primary reason cited (79%) is that the cost of doing business has worsened,” said Val Litwin, CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “Current tax rates are hurting our ability to compete globally. This budget didn’t adequately address productivity or competitiveness in a way that will grow our economy, create meaningful employment, and generate the revenues we need to sustain a healthy prosperous province and country,” Litwin says.
The budget did deliver in a few key areas that are significant to BC businesses:

Multiple funding mechanisms to ensure that high-speed internet access is Canada-wide by 2030, with $1.7 billion specifically earmarked for rural, remote and Northern communities.
$631.2 million to expand Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) programs, with a view to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities outside of STEM-related fields.
$150 million to create new partnerships between government and industry to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities.
Multiple funding mechanisms to enhance apprentice programs in skilled trades.
$3 billion in tax incentives through the SR&ED tax incentive to support business research and development (R&D) in Canada. The program provides a 35-per-cent refundable tax credit to eligible small and medium-sized businesses.

However, the budget did not address the key issues identified by businesses:

A commitment to a comprehensive review of the taxation system to make it fair and less cumbersome for businesses.
A broad-based commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.

A renewed commitment to eliminating inter-provincial trade barriers and mobility.
Support for SMEs to find new export opportunities and expand Canada’s ability to diversify its trade.
A clear strategy to move the Trans Mountain pipeline forward, given the significant investment made by Canadian taxpayers.

Some Budget 2019 proposals require more consideration and details before determining the impact on businesses:

The budget identified funding programs to develop “regulatory roadmaps” to address stakeholder issues and irritants. While these efforts align with the BC Chamber’s interest in reducing the regulatory burden on Canadian businesses, the Budget proposals unfortunately maintain a lackluster, made-by-government solution to a made-by-government problem.
The new Canadian Training Credit and EI Training Support Benefits to support the up-skilling and re-skilling of Canadians align with the BC Chamber’s recommendations. However, the potential impact on small businesses remains unclear. The BC Chamber needs more information and wants to see a commitment that business is consulted.
The budget offered little new information regarding the national pharmacare plan. The BC Chamber supports focusing on the 10% of Canadians that are uninsured or underinsured, and also supports the value of bulk drug purchasing to help British Columbians manage costs.
The BC Chamber supports the Global Talent Stream program but would like to see a commitment from the program to bring skilled immigrants to rural communities, where they are often most needed.

The BC Chamber network will continue to engage with federal representatives to prioritize restoring a competitive tax structure, reducing regulatory burdens, and increasing access to skilled labour as critical priorities to maintain prosperity for all British Columbians, the BC Chamber of Commerce said.

Teri Mooring is the next BC Teachers’ Federation president

19 March 2019

Teri Mooring

TERI Mooring will be the new president of the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and its 43,000 members. She will take over from Glen Hansman when his three-year term comes to an end on June 30. The BCTF has a long-standing practice that presidents serve for a maximum of three years, although they must seek re-election every year.

Mooring has been a Vice President of the BCTF for the last six years. As well, she is currently serving as one of the federation’s lead negotiators in this round of provincial collective bargaining. Prior to moving to Vancouver in 2013, when she first became a BCTF Vice President, Teri served for five years as president of her local union, the Quesnel District Teachers’ Association. She came to that position thoroughly grounded in the classroom, with 20 years of experience as a Grade 6–7 teacher.

Teri’s hometown is Quesnel and she is very proud of her background growing up, working, and raising her family in a resource-based community. As a teenager and young adult, she worked at Cariboo Pulp and Paper in Quesnel where her father was the local union president. Her two adult children now live in Dawson Creek, and she has two granddaughters.

Teri first got involved in the union movement at home and in the pulp mill. Family discussions around the kitchen table were often about politics. In 1988, when she was just starting her teaching career, teachers in Quesnel and across BC first unionized. She was a young staff representative when Quesnel teachers negotiated their first collective agreement.

Teri first ran for a seat on the provincial BCTF Executive Committee with the goal of increasing the voice and presence of central and northern BC teachers.

As she moves into the role of BCTF president, Teri is looking forward to raising awareness about the inequities facing schools in small, rural, and remote communities. She wants to make sure the same opportunities for children and teachers are available in small towns that exist in large urban areas.

U.S.: Former Stockton couple convicted of human trafficking charges related to forced labor of foreign nationals

19 March 2019

Victims flew from India and Nepal to testify

SACRAMENTO, California: After an 11-day trial, a federal jury found Satish Kartan, 45, and his wife, Sharmistha Barai, 40, guilty on March 14 of conspiracy to obtain forced labor and two counts of obtaining forced labor. In addition, Kartan was found guilty of fraud in foreign labor contracting.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between February 2014 and October 2016, Kartan and Barai hired workers from overseas to perform domestic labor in their home in Stockton. In advertisements seeking workers on the internet and India-based newspapers, the defendants made false claims regarding the wages and the duties of employment. Then, once the workers arrived at the defendants’ Stockton residence, Kartan and Barai forced them to work 18 hours a day with limited rest and nourishment.

Few of them were paid any wage. The defendants kept their domestic workers from leaving and induced them to keep working for them by threatening them, by creating an atmosphere of fear, control, and disempowerment, and at times by physically hitting or burning them. When a victim pushed back or said she wanted to leave, it got worse.
Victims flew from India and Nepal to testify. According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants struck one worker on multiple occasions. Barai threatened to kill her and throw her bones in the garbage, backhanded her across the face for talking back, and slammed her hands down on a gas stove, causing her to suffer first and second degree burns on her hands from the flames.

The defendants also threatened several other victims to coerce them to keep working, including by telling the victims they would report them to police or immigration authorities if they tried to leave. Throughout the victims’ time in the defendants’ home, they were deprived of sleep and food. The defendants subjected the victims to verbal abuse and harassment in an effort to intimidate them into continuing to provide labor and services.
Kartan and Barai are scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

“Human trafficking is a disgraceful and unacceptable crime. The defendants in this case took advantage of overseas workers, forcing them to work without pay, physically abusing them, and threatening negative repercussions if they tried to leave,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and vigorously prosecute human traffickers in order to bring justice to victims.”
“These defendants exploited one victim after another, using them to labor in their home, failing to pay wages and depriving them of basic human rights,” said U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues its commitment to protect and defend vulnerable members of our society from human trafficking.”
“The Diplomatic Security Service will continue to pursue those who abuse domestic worker visas to manipulate and exploit their employees for personal gain,” said Matthew Perlman, Special Agent in Charge of the of the Diplomatic Security Service San Francisco Field Office. “DSS’s strong relationship with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California continues to be essential in the pursuit of justice.”
“Kartan and Barai did not simply fail to pay victims for their work,” said Sean Ragan, Special Agent in Charge of the Sacramento FBI Field Office. “They deprived them of their dignity and robbed them of their federally protected civil rights. The FBI will work with partner agencies to protect victims of human trafficking wherever that crime occurs.”
“Millions of people worldwide are affected by this type of forced labor and human trafficking,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, the Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Northern California. “This case is a testament of the dedication of HSI and our law enforcement partners. We are committed to working together to eradicate these deplorable crimes from our community.”

Conservatives still ahead of Liberals – and Trudeau still ahead of Scheer as preferred PM

19 March 2019

scheer trudeau — Andrew Scheer and Justin Trudeau.

THE latest Nanos federal ballot tracking (March 15) has the Conservatives at 35.5 per cent, followed by the Liberals at 32.6 per cent, the NDP at 19.9 percent, the Bloc Quebecois at 3.2 per cent, the Greens at 7.7 per cent and the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) at 0.5 per cent.

Asked whether they would consider voting for each of the federal parties, 47.2 per cent of Canadians say they would consider voting Liberal while 46.3 per cent would consider voting Conservative. Four in 10 (39.6%) would consider voting NDP, 31.8 per cent would consider voting Green, 10 per cent would consider voting for the People’s Party and 26.5 per cent would consider voting for the BQ.

Nanos tracking has Justin Trudeau as the preferred choice as Prime Minister at 30.3 per cent of Canadians followed by Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer (27.3%), NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (8.9%), Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (7.2%) and PPC Leader Maxime Bernier (2.8%). Twenty-two per cent of Canadians were unsure whom they preferred.

Fewer than half of Canadians (46.9%) believe Trudeau has the qualities of a good political leader, while 41.1 per cent believe Scheer has the qualities of a good political leader. Three in 10 (30.8%) say Jagmeet Singh has the qualities of a good political leader, while 36.4 per cent believe the same about May. One in six (18.4%) believe Bernier has the qualities of a good political leader and 25.7 per cent said BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet has the qualities of a good political leader (Quebec only).

Budget 2019: Investing in the middle class to grow Canada’s economy, says federal government

19 March 2019

Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
Photo by Chandra Bodalia

FEDERAL Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Tuesday tabled Budget 2019—Investing in the Middle Class.

With Budget 2019, the Government says it is continuing to invest to grow the economy for the long term, in a fiscally responsible way—ensuring that Canada’s federal debt-to-GDP ratio continues on a steady downward track.

In Budget 2019, the Government of Canada proposes to:

Make homeownership more affordable for first-time buyers by implementing a First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, a shared equity mortgage program that would reduce the mortgage payments required to own a home; and by providing greater access to their Registered Retirement Savings Plan savings to buy a home.
Help workers gain new skills with the creation of the new Canada Training Benefit, a benefit that will give workers money to help pay for training, provide income support during training, and, with the cooperation of the provinces and territories, offer job protection so that workers can take the time they need to keep their skills relevant and in-demand.
Prepare young Canadians for good jobs by helping make education more affordable through lowered interest rates on Canada Student Loans, making the six-month grace period interest-free after a student loan borrower leaves school, and creating up to 84,000 new student work placements per year by 2023-24.
Help Canadians with the cost of prescription drugs by taking steps towards a national pharmacare plan, starting with creating a new Canadian Drug Agency that could lower Canadians’ drug costs by as much as $3 billion per year, developing a national formulary for prescription drugs, and a national strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases.
Support low-income Canadian seniors who choose to stay in the workforce by enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement earnings exemption so that they can effectively keep more of their hard-earned income.
Support municipalities’ local infrastructure priorities by proposing a one-time top-up of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund that will double the Government’s commitment to municipalities in 2018-19, and make sure communities have the funds they need to pay for crucial repairs and other important local projects.
Give all Canadians access to high-speed internet so all Canadian homes and businesses have access to 50 Mbps high-speed internet no matter where they live—including people and businesses in rural, remote and northern communities.
Lower Canadians’ energy costs by partnering with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to increase energy efficiency in residential, commercial and multi-use buildings, and by introducing a new incentive for buying electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price under $45,000.
Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through new measures to help improve the quality of life for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples in Canada and advance self-determination with investments to improve water quality; preserve, revitalize, and promote Indigenous languages; improve the quality of education and health care for Indigenous children in a culturally relevant way; and promote Indigenous entrepreneurship and business.

With the new investments in Budget 2019, combined with lower taxes, more money in their pockets each month and more good jobs, there is good reason for middle class Canadians to feel more confident about what the future holds for themselves and their families.

Morneau said: “Nearly four years ago, Canadians chose a plan that invested in the things that matter most to them: good, well-paying jobs; more help for families with the high cost of living; strong, connected communities; and better opportunities for our children and grandchildren. These are Canadians’ priorities, and they are ones our Government shares. Budget 2019 is the next step in our plan to invest in the middle class and build a strong economy that works for the middle class—and for all Canadians.”

Quick Facts

* Over the past four years, the Government has focused on strengthening and growing the middle class, and offering real help to people working hard to join it, so that everyone has a real and fair chance at success.
* Under the Government’s plan, hard-working Canadians have created over 900,000 new jobs, most of them full-time, driving the unemployment rate to its lowest levels in more than 40 years. This includes especially strong employment gains by women.
* The Canada Child Benefit is helping families with the high cost of raising children by putting more money in the pockets of nine out of ten Canadian families, and helping to lift nearly 300,000 children out of poverty.
* More than nine million Canadians are benefitting from the Government’s middle class tax cut, which gives them more money to save or spend on the things they need.
* An enhanced Canada Pension Plan, which will raise the maximum CPP retirement benefit by up to 50 per cent over time, is giving today’s and future Canadian workers greater income security when they retire.
* Historic investments in infrastructure, including the National Housing Strategy which is helping more Canadians find a safe and affordable place to call home.

No private insurer could come into B.C. and offer the rates they offer in Alberta: ICBC

19 March 2019

ICBC says that “no private insurer could come into B.C. and offer the rates they offer in Alberta – our system and the cost pressures are very different – and the levels of coverage provided to British Columbians far outweigh those in other provinces.”

It adds: “As of April 1, for example, our medical care benefits will be six times those offered in Alberta, our wage loss will be almost double and our death benefits triple.”

The ICBC’s reaction came on Tuesday in anticipation of an Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) report that talks up Alberta’s private insurance system.

The ICBC noted: “While we know our auto insurance system in B.C. has been facing extreme challenges in recent years, we also know major reforms are coming on April 1, and then on September 1, which we believe will go a long way to addressing those issues. If they don’t, government committed in this year’s throne speech: “If further action is required, your government will be ready”. We have big challenges here in B.C. but, the fact is, government and ICBC are standing up and fixing the problems that ail our system.”

ICBC said in a statement: “On January 7, in Thompson’s World Insurance News, the IBC stated that “Alberta auto is in crisis”. The basis for the IBC’s concerns is the fact that insurance rates in that province have been capped so insurers are only able to raise their rates by up to five per cent each year.
“Despite ongoing rate increases in Alberta, this cap has meant insurers are not even able to cover their costs and, as a result, some insurers have now ceased to provide insurance to some subsets of the population, certain communities or to exit the market altogether because they can’t even break even. In an edition of Canadian Underwriter on January 14, the IBC called this situation “unsustainable”.
“This situation is also creating some other serious risks on Alberta’s roads. In November, CTV reported that the CEO of one insurer in the province said the situation is so bad it has “created an environment that is endangering Albertans” as, roughly 40 per cent of drivers, are being told by private insurers that they are too great of a risk and are being denied coverage. The same CEO stated: “Unless you’re a squeaky clean risk, we don’t want you.” As a result, “they’re out there driving and they’re uninsured… if you get hit by one of them… you’re now at risk.”
“This has led to the IBC advocating for the government to remove the rate cap which will inevitably lead to significant rate increases. So, while some drivers may find less expensive auto insurance in Alberta today, it’s uncertain how long this will continue to be the case.
Meanwhile, also on the other side of the Rockies, public auto insurance systems in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are thriving, showing auto insurance rates that are lower, on average, than private rates in Alberta and are popular with drivers – something we are working towards here in B.C.”

ICBC added: “We know the rising cost of auto insurance has been top of mind for many British Columbians and that this is a critical time for auto insurance across Canada – that’s why we’re currently undergoing the biggest overhaul in our history, doubling benefits, making rates fairer and reducing the burden legal costs put on our system.
“Each province needs to chart their own path towards a sustainable system that benefits all its customers. Our job at ICBC is to work alongside government to forge our own path to fixing auto insurance in B.C. – a path we have already taken great strides down to ensure a sustainable ICBC that represents the best interests of British Columbians.”

B.C. government gets ready for 2019 wildfire season

19 March 2019

IN the wake of two of the worst wildfire seasons on record, the British Columbia government is stepping up with more fire prevention strategies, programs and funding to help keep British Columbians and their communities safe this summer.

“We’ve taken a hard look at additional steps we can take to not only prevent wildfires, but also enhance our response on the ground during wildfire season,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Our base budget for wildfire spending has increased by 58%, and we’re accelerating prevention and prevention awareness programs.”

As part of Budget 2019, wildfire management funding has increased by 58% to $101 million annually. The additional funding will help the BC Wildfire Service add to its fire response capabilities – adding more crews, enhancing aerial capacity and including innovative technology – and spending more on fire prevention activities, including a more comprehensive prescribed burning program backed by an initial $10 million.

New technology, including night vision goggles to better aid in early detection and response, will also be piloted this summer.

Other important advances over the past year include building stronger working relationships with communities, First Nations, the forest industry and other stakeholders. The changes support the recommendations of the independent Abbott-Chapman report.

Wildfire prevention funding initiatives include the following:

* The $50-million Community Resiliency Investment program was established in September 2018 to help local governments and First Nations lower wildfire risks around their communities. As part of Budget 2019, an additional $10 million has been added, for a total of $60 million. Results from the first application intake will be announced by the end of March 2019.

* The B.C. government has increased funding under the Forest Carbon Initiative by $13 million over the next three years, allowing it to take advantage of matching funding from the federal government. This money is used for reforestation and restoration initiatives that not only capture carbon, but also reduce wildfire risks. This funding is in addition to the $235 million provided to the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., of which nearly $180 million has been allocated.

Follow the latest wildfire news:

* On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

* On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

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