Historic Funding Boost for Public Libraries 📚

Please note: Our Constituency Office will be closed on Monday, Mar 27th

Dear <<First Name>>,

We love our libraries! I am so delighted to be at Vancouver Island Regional Library + Fans with Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox this morning to announce $45 million in provincial funding to support all 71 public libraries and their service partners across B.C. This funding will give libraries the flexibility to address local priorities, including expanded operating hours, enlarging digital collections, and improving access to literacy.

It was my pleasure to join in on Family Storytime and Babytime this morning. Seeing all the little faces filled with wonder reminds me of my passion to support lifelong learning. These programs are a perfect example of the community-building services that libraries provide, and which foster a life-long love of reading and learning.

News Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/28435

This week I had the pleasure to join Omni Television Vancouver on their Focus Mandarin show to talk about my role as the Minister of Municipal Affairs. You may not know this, but I am also the Minister responsible for immigration and public libraries in our B.C. Government!

I also shared the details of my ministry’s recent announcements to support our communities through the $1 billion Growing Communities Fund for all 188 municipalities and the Critical Community Infrastructure Fund which includes $250 million towards the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades.

Together, through cross-government collaboration, we can support the vibrancy of our communities and ensure you have access to the services you and our loved ones rely on.

Here are some things I'd like to share with you from the past week:

British Columbians will get better highway cell coverage

The Province is supporting new cellular projects that will enable better safety for travellers along key transportation routes across British Columbia.
Cellular connectivity is critical for public safety and access to emergency services

We are investing $75 million to support expanding highway cellular services to at least another 550 km of the highway by 2027.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023CITZ0007-000360

More veterinarians coming for B.C. pet owners, farmers

The Province is permanently doubling the number of subsidized seats for B.C. veterinary students attending the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan.
We are addressing the shortage of veterinarians by supporting more B.C. students in getting quality education and practice in high-demand regions, as well as attracting more veterinarians to B.C. through migration and international recruitment.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PSFS0021-000374

Community programs boosted to safeguard the environment, protect people

More than $12 million in new funding for public safety and environment programs will support not-for-profit organizations that are helping make life better for people throughout B.C.

In the environment sector, these grants will support not-for-profit organizations that focus on animal protection, conservation and environmental awareness programs.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MUNI0019-000376

Province improves inclusion, accessibility in B.C. parks

The Province is renewing and expanding its commitment to make B.C. parks more inclusive and accessible with the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion.

Budget 2023 provides $3.6 million over the next three years to continue upgrading facilities, such as washrooms, parking lots and trails, to an accessible standard in parks near urban centres.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023ENV0021-000369

Third enhanced BC Family Benefit arrives

Approximately 75% of B.C. families with children will see more money in their bank accounts from the third enhanced BC Family Benefit payment. From January through March 2023 combined, the extra BC Family Benefit payments have provided as much as an additional $350 for a family with two children.

Raising BC Family Benefit payments is one of the ways Budget 2023 investments are reducing costs and increasing support for people.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023FIN0021-000352

Recent events

Income Tax Clinics

Tax Clinic Screening Pre-Booking Form now available
on BNH website

Need some help preparing your tax return? Volunteers can help Burnaby residents complete income tax returns for low income earners.
For more information and criteria of eligibility, go to https://burnabynh.ca/volunteer-income-tax-program/

I'm here for you

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any provincial issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you.

My office can be reached at (604) 775-0565 or Anne.Kang.MLA@leg.bc.ca.

Sincerely,

Anne Kang, MLA
Burnaby-Deer Lake

Provincial Government Resources

Visit gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated for your influenza and COVID-19 vaccination info
Call 811 for free-of-charge provincial health information and advice.
Call 211 for free, confidential, multilingual service that links people to resources for help.

Burnaby Family Doctor Resources

To find a family doctor, click here
To find a clinic, click here.
For non-emergency health information and advice, click here.

Were you forwarded this email?
Click here to subscribe to MLA Anne Kang's newsletter! We'll send you information about our community and let you know about events in the riding.