The speech from the throne reached out to the North Coast on several key issues, North Coast MLA Bill Belsey told the Legislative Assembly last week.
"This government's commitment to economic development, First Nations participation, transportation and infrastructure development, forestry, mining, energy, education and northern development is all positive for my region," Mr. Belsey said.
The MLA said generating employment in the north was a fundamental theme of the speech, pointing to the market-based pricing system coming on-line in BC to stimulate the lumber industry, the 20-percent timber re-allocation that is opening up the North Coast fibre basket, the elimination of red tape encumbering the mining industry, and relationship-building with First Nations.
"The new Rural Health Travel Assistance Plan will be launched this year to help rural families who must travel to health centres for special care," said Mr. Belsey. "Those of us who live in the north know just how important this issue really is. Thousands of dollars are spent annually by people in my riding to attend special medical treatment in some of the major centres around British Columbia. This was an issue ignored by the previous government."