Pats Top Ten
 January 28, 2012 | | |  | | January 23, 2012 | | | | | | January 07, 2012 | | | | | | December 03, 2011 | | | | | | November 05, 2011 | | | | | | October 29, 2011 | | | | | | October 22, 2011 | | | | | | October 15, 2011 | | | | | | October 03, 2011 | | | | | | September 17, 2011 | | | | | | September 11, 2011 | | | | | | July 22, 2011 | | | | | | July 16, 2011 | | | | | | July 09, 2011 | | | | | | June 17, 2011 | | | | | | June 14, 2011 | | | | | | June 03, 2011 | | | | | | May 28, 2011 | | | | | | May 20, 2011 | | | | | | May 15, 2011 | | | | | | May 09, 2011 | | | | | | April 30, 2011 | | | | | | April 27, 2011 | | | | | | April 09, 2011 | | | | | | April 02, 2011 | | | | | | March 11, 2011 | | | | | | February 04, 2011 | | | | | | January 28, 2011 | | | | | | January 21, 2011 | | | | | | December 24, 2010 | | | | | | December 17, 2010 | | | | | | December 10, 2010 | | | | | | December 04, 2010 | | | | | | November 25, 2010 | | | | | | November 15, 2010 | | | | | | November 08, 2010 | | | | | | October 29, 2010 | | | | | | October 23, 2010 | | | | | | October 18, 2010 | | | | | | October 09, 2010 | | | | | | October 01, 2010 | | | | | | September 18, 2010 | | | | | | September 13, 2010 | | | | | | September 03, 2010 | | | | | | August 27, 2010 | | | | | | August 11, 2010 | | | | | | July 29, 2010 | | | | | | July 26, 2010 | | | | | | July 17, 2010 | | | | | | July 09, 2010 | | WOW! Summer has arrived and with it the weather that most of us look forward to. | | | | | July 06, 2010 | | There are always lots of small highway projects going on in our region while the big ones tend to get the press. | | | | | June 26, 2010 | | With the “official” start of summer this week I know that people are going to enjoy the nicer weather and take in our Province during the holiday time. | | | | | June 19, 2010 | | This past week I covered a lot of territory with time spent in Prince George, Vancouver, Alexis Creek, Victoria and Salmon Arm. | | | | | June 12, 2010 | | Tough week last week with the resignation of Blair Lekstrom. While I don’t agree with Blair’s decision I do respect him and understand that he needed to move on. | | | | | June 05, 2010 | | After a couple of long Legislative sessions we wrapped up our Spring session on Thursday afternoon. 21 bills passed through the House including 4 that I either led or had a major role in. | | | | | May 27, 2010 | | I’m a bit early again this week with my Top 10 but I know it will be a busy weekend with my Father-In-Law Clarence Lapp having his 80th birthday so thought I should get this done. | | | | | May 20, 2010 | | I'm off to Haida Gwaii this weekend so a little early with this Top 10. Colin Hansen published a list of 10 economic indicators this week that is a little broader than I normally use but really worth a read so the week's Top 10 is courtesy of Minister Hansen. | | | | | May 14, 2010 | | It really feels like Spring is in the air with the grass greening up, trees budding and the Mackenzie golf course opening (earliest ever). | | | | | May 08, 2010 | | There is lots of good news on the economic front right now with new unemployment numbers released yesterday, credit ratings, lumber prices and a general sense of optimism. | | | | | May 01, 2010 | | For a couple of weeks now I have been mentioning the good news in Mackenzie but with the focus on other big issues I really have not been able to get into a great amount of detail on all of the different pieces of the equation. | | | | | April 26, 2010 | | Sorry I'm really late this week with my Top 10. I had a very busy weekend in Mackenzie with the annual Chamber of Commerce Spring Exposition. | | | | | April 17, 2010 | | I thought that even though I may be stirring up a Hornets nest that I needed to get some of the facts out there on HST. | | | | | April 12, 2010 | | It really does feel like we have turned the economic corner and are on our way back up with some of the news in BC. | | | | | April 02, 2010 | | Fresh (not) back from China and another successful trip this past week. | | | | | March 26, 2010 | | I’ve had to pre write this Top 10 as I am on my way to China this weekend to further advance the lumber sales opportunity that is showing real potential. | | | | | March 20, 2010 | | Welcome to Spring (today) and what an early one it seems to be | | | | | March 12, 2010 | | Steady as she goes! That is really the theme of our most recent budget and Throne Speech and I’m encouraged by the level of support that I’m hearing for both. | | | | | March 08, 2010 | | Another beautiful weather week in Prince George and Mackenzie with a temperature of +10’ as I type this. | | | | | February 27, 2010 | | What an exciting week this past week with the entire country if not the world focusing on British Columbia and everything we have to offer. | | | | | February 20, 2010 | | Last week was spent touring forestry operations, mills and Forest Service Office in the Kootenays. | | | | | February 12, 2010 | | What an exciting day today with the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Brenda and I are looking forward to watching the ceremonies at home with a big group of friends and family | | | | | February 06, 2010 | | With just a few days to go to the 2010 Olympics, BC is starting to buzz! | | | | | January 30, 2010 | | What an exciting week for Mackenzie and Prince George this week with the Olympic Torch coming through our towns. | | | | | January 26, 2010 | | A sad week last week with the passing of Joanne Niwranski. Joanne was a great friend and a leader in Prince George. | | | | | January 16, 2010 | | | | | | April 10, 2009 | | This is the #314 and final edition of the Top 10 for my second term in Office. As we are entering the "Writ" period, I will not have access to this computer so this will be it. | | | | | April 04, 2009 | | This week Pat talks about a discussion paper he released, which considers significant changes to the silviculture practices that currently exist. | | | | | March 30, 2009 | | This week’s “Top 10” will focus on the “Generating More Value From Our Forests” strategy and what this can mean for our new Forest Industry. | | | | | March 21, 2009 | | This week, Pat talks about local issues and the upcoming election. | | | | | February 21, 2009 | | This week, Pat talks about the Throne Speech and the 10 quotes he thinks are particularly relevant to the North. | | | | | February 14, 2009 | | This week, Pat talks about his priorities and some of the actions he is taking to make sure the forest industry that will grow and thrive in the coming years. | | | | | February 07, 2009 | | Pat celebrates the past seven and a half years of the Top 10 by looking back at accomplishments since 2001. | | | | | January 31, 2009 | | There has been a lot written about the Worthington pulp mill and the current challenges we are facing in Mackenzie so this week, Pat provides a good idea of what, and why the actions taken where necessary. | | | | | January 24, 2009 | | To compliment next week's annual "Roundup" conference in Vancouver for the mining industry, Pat focuses this week's Top 10 on the importance of mining to B.C. | | | | | January 21, 2009 | | Ramping up for the Northern Economic Summit in Prince George, Pat takes this week to mention some of the event's prestigious speakers. | | | | | January 10, 2009 | | To start the new year, Pat highlights items from over the holidays and recent noteworthy news for 2009. | | | | | December 20, 2008 | | With Christmas getting closer every day now and with the cold weather settling in over the weekend, Pat discusses the Opportunities North: The Northern Economic Summit and the benefits of recent announcements to northern communities. | | | | | December 13, 2008 | | As Christmas approaches and a new year is about to begin, Pat's Top 10 this week focuses on forestry and economic initiatives benefiting the North and B.C. | | | | | December 06, 2008 | | With all the turmoil in Ottawa this week and the worldwide economic downturn, Pat focuses on the strength of B.C.'s industries and recent announcements affecting the North. | | | | | November 29, 2008 | | With the completion of the Fall session, which included passing legislation focused on stabilizing BC's economy, Pat highlights recent announcements affecting the North and the rest of the Province. | | | | | November 22, 2008 | | Having just returned from an interesting few days in China, Pat's Top 10 this week showcases on how the B.C. forest industry can take advantage of the Asian markets and the opportunities they offer. | | | | | November 14, 2008 | | Pat is currently traveling in China on a trade mission as the Minister of Forestry but he's going to hold off his "China Top 10" until he get's back next week. So this week, the Top 10 is on a great institution that doesn't always get the respect it deserves, the College of New Caledonia. | | | | | November 08, 2008 | | Before heading off to China next week to promote B.C. lumber, Pat highlights recent provincial announcements affecting the North. | | | | | November 03, 2008 | | There were some great announcements made recently to help British Columbians during these troubling economic times. This week, Pat lists some of the programs that will help ease the burden on hard working families. Also, he's included a few items in the news that British Columbians should be aware of. | | | | | October 25, 2008 | | The Premier rolled out a 10 point plan this week that will help address the economic challenges we are currently facing. By far and away the focus is on reducing taxes and accelerating infrastructure spending. This week's Top 10 is a summary of the actions outlined by the Premier. | | | | | October 18, 2008 | | A lot has happened over the last few days that directly affect those in the North. The latest Top 10 will focus on some of the important highlights from the previous week. | | | | | October 17, 2008 | | This week, Pat had the honour of emceeing the Northern B.C. Women of Distinction awards. To celebrate this event, he is extending the Top 10 to showcase the award recipients (all 15 of them) by providing short bios on all 16 awards. | | | | | October 07, 2008 | | With all the recent news in Forestry and other sectors, I have not been keeping you up to speed on all the different initiatives in Government, so for this week's Top 10, I want to walk you through a variety of Government initiatives that have unfolded recently. | | | | | September 29, 2008 | | This weeks’ Top 10 is a selection of quotes from the Premiers UBCM speech. All are items that will enhance and improve the lives of people in rural BC so it was a real highlight for many. | | | | | September 06, 2008 | | As Pat returns to work after vacation, this week he presents a top 10 with a number of interesting items from a publication called "Beyond the Headlines." | | | | | August 25, 2008 | | This week's Top 10 is another guest edition with Pat's summer Constituency Assistant Cameron Ehl as the author. Cam discusses UNBC and the great features of this institution. | | | | | August 18, 2008 | | In the spirit of truck safety week, a leader in truck safety initiatives Mary Anne Arcand is the guest presenter for Pat's Top 10! | | | | | August 11, 2008 | | Summer has been busy for Pat and this week he is showcasing events and announcements that positively affect Prince George and B.C. | | | | | August 04, 2008 | | Pat would like to wish a very happy birthday to our wonderful Province as we celebrate 150 years. As this is a great time to enjoy B.C., this week, he highlights local tourism opportunities around Prince George. | | | | | July 26, 2008 | | This past week, the Prince George Airport announced their 'Trans-Shipment Status’ to accept aircraft flying from Asia to the United States with air cargo. To highlight this great news, the first ever 'Top 10' guest, Luke McDonald from L&M Engineering, provides some very interesting information about the project. | | | | | July 21, 2008 | | Following the release of the provincial public accounts, Pat touches on some highlights this week. | | | | | July 12, 2008 | | This week, Pat focuses on diversifying our forest products market into larger commercial buildings and the opportunities this provides. | | | | | July 05, 2008 | | It was been busy and exciting as Pat adjusts to his new responsibilities as Minister of Forests and Range. In honour of Pat's recent conversations with industry, workers, community leaders and First Nations around the province, this week will focus on new opportunities in the forestry sector. | | | | | June 21, 2008 | | This week is a "milestone" edition of the Top Ten, as Pat celebrates his 275th edition. Pat takes this time to give a general overview of issues affecting all British Columbians. | | | | | June 17, 2008 | | After a successful week in Beijing, focused on a variety of topics from food safety to investment options to cattle industry standards, Pat highlights new opportunities for B.C. in China. | | | | | June 07, 2008 | | Before heading off to China, Pat toured the province, attending forestry and bioenergy events, and learned about new opportunities. This week, Pat showcases some of those opportunities and events happening in Mackenzie and Prince George. | | | | | May 30, 2008 | | After a week of celebrating his son's graduation from UNBC and making headway in Mackenzie, Pat spotlights the significant amount of legislation passed at the end of Spring Session that is relevant to the North. | | | | | May 24, 2008 | | This week, Pat highlights some incentives to reduce energy consumption in your home. | | | | | May 10, 2008 | | This week is an exciting time in the North. Pat highlights the provincial aid package for forestry workers and impacted communities and honours the first graduates of the Northern Medical Program. | | | | | May 05, 2008 | | This week, Pat walks through a few of the key exploration projects in Northern BC. All are metal
properties (as opposed to coal) at various stages of exploration/development. | | | | | April 26, 2008 | | The Forestry Round Table is picking up steam and this week Pat highlights the meeting's mandate and how British Columbians can be heard and informed. | | | | | April 19, 2008 | | In this week's Top 10, Pat highlights health care and environmental investment introduced in the Legislature as well as initiatives that impact the North. | | | | | April 12, 2008 | | Many, significant pieces of health legislation were presented in the BC Legislature this past week. This week's Top 10 focuses on some of the highlights and also addresses issues that are of interest to the residents of Prince George. | | | | | March 29, 2008 | | Touring across the province, it was a very busy week out of the House. This week's Top 10 focuses on some of the many exciting announcements Pat would like to highlight. | | | | | March 11, 2008 | | Pat talks about an amendment to the "Cruelty to Animal Act" that he introduced in the Legislature, the Forestry round table and much more! | | | | | March 01, 2008 | | This past week was the first week of session post budget and post throne speech so the tone of the House starts to change and move into day to day debates and operations. | | | | | February 23, 2008 | | It was a busy week in the BC Legislature with the delivery of Balanced Budget 2008, which includes significant personal, small business and corporate tax cuts and a revenue-neutral carbon tax to help protect our environment. | | | | | February 16, 2008 | | It was an exciting week with both the Speech from the Throne and the release of the Agriculture Plan (available at: http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/Agriculture_Plan/). This week's Top 10 focuses on some of the highlights from the Throne Speech. | | | | | February 09, 2008 | | The Prince George North constituency is looking ahead to a bright future. Unemployment was just 5.1 % in January according to Stats Canada and the Pope and Talbot mill in Mackenzie has been purchased by Sinar Mas. | | | | | February 02, 2008 | | $200,000 for a flood analysis study in Prince George and the new BC Bioenergy Strategy highlight the last week. | | | | | February 02, 2008 | | $200,000 for a flood analysis study and the unveiling of the BioEnergy strategy highlight the past week for Northern BC. | | | | | January 28, 2008 | | Mining exploration expenditures in British Columbia reached an all-time high once again last year. Pat looks at the potential the industry has in rural B.C. for the future. | | | | | January 22, 2008 | | Congratulations to the nominees and winners of the 9th annual Trade and Tech Awards! | | | | | January 12, 2008 | | Pat highlights just some of the great speakers lined up for this year's Natural Resource Forum. | | | | | November 30, 2007 | | The provincial second quarterly update was released today and despite a significant reduction in natural resource revenues due to the strong Canadian dollar, the economic forecast remains positive. | | | | | November 24, 2007 | | The passing of a true Mackenzie pioneer is a good time to look back at the rich history of the community. | | | | | November 10, 2007 | | This week's Top Ten takes a look back at some of the good work Northern Health has done over the past few years. | | | | | November 03, 2007 | | October was Small Business Month and this week's Top Ten focuses on what the government is doing to help small business in B.C. | | | | | October 27, 2007 | | Legislation was introduced this week by the government that ensures the protection of rural and Northern constituencies in the provincial government. | | | | | October 19, 2007 | | This week was the first week of the Fall Session in the Legislature, which will be highlighted by the Tsawwassen First Nation Treaty. | | | | | October 12, 2007 | | This week was headlined by a $25 million housing announcement. Pat looks at what else the B.C. Government has down on the issue. | | | | | October 06, 2007 | | Happy Thanksgiving!
Pat's excited about this week's announcement of the Northwest Transmission Line and challenges you to the 100 Mile Diet! | | | | | September 29, 2007 | | September has come and gone after a whirlwind week at the Union of BC Municipalities' annual conference last week. Here's to hoping for a good snowmobiling season this winter! | | | | | September 25, 2007 | | Prince George is really becoming the Northern Capital with the announcements of a Cancer Centre and airport expansion, plus the grand opening of the Sports Centre all last week! | | | | | September 15, 2007 | | This week's Top 10 focuses on some of the positive signs to come out of the B.C. Government's First Quarterly Report for the 2007 fiscal year. | | | | | September 07, 2007 | | There was a great turnout for the Electoral Boundaries Commission's stop in Prince George. This week's top ten focuses on the provincial economy. | | | | | August 31, 2007 | | Pat is back with the top ten reasons the north deserves to keep its existing level of representation. | | | | | July 22, 2007 | | The government released the Public Accounts information for the 2006/07 fiscal year, complete with one billion of debt reduction and $3.4 billion invested in capital projects across the province. | | | | | July 15, 2007 | | The long days of summer are here and Pat has 10 tips about things you can do to pass the time. | | | | | July 07, 2007 | | Unemployment rates continue to be at record lows across British Columbia and we're already starting to see why the government implemented the Civil Forfeiture Act. | | | | | June 30, 2007 | | Pat wishes everyone a happy Canada Day long weekend and is looking forward to being able to spend more time in Mackenzie and Prince George this summer. | | | | | June 23, 2007 | | Pat takes this week's Top 10 to talk about some of the things that the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands can help you with. | | | | | June 18, 2007 | | Pat had a great Father's Day with his family and is off to the Kootenays for some work on the Mountain Caribou Recovery Plan while continuing to work with Canfor in regards to the Mackenzie mill. | | | | | June 09, 2007 | | Pat continues to work diligently on the Mackenzie Canfor situation and is looking forward to getting outdoors for some fishing on Father's Day next week. | | | | | June 02, 2007 | | It's been an eventful week with the conclusion of the spring Legislative Session and a visit for the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. | | | | | May 26, 2007 | | The provincial government is putting more funding into BC Parks, including $150,000 for Crooked River Park. | | | | | May 18, 2007 | | The government announced 462 new trades training seats at CNC this week and more financial agencies are upgrading the province's credit rating! | | | | | May 12, 2007 | | Next week is mining week and the industry has really turned itself around after the dismal decade of the 90s! | | | | | May 05, 2007 | | I had my first tour of the new "Charles Jago Northern Sports Centre" at UNBC this week and the only word I have to describe it is "WOW"! This is a world class facility that will host 2 soccer games, 3 basketball games, a racquet ball tournament, track event and still have room for several hundred people working on their fitness and all at the same time! | | | | | April 28, 2007 | | Last week's Agriculture-focused Top 10 was a big hit so Pat's back with more farming information! | | | | | April 25, 2007 | | This week is Agriculture week in B.C. | | | | | April 14, 2007 | | Pat was busy this week meeting with other Agriculture ministers from around the country. Next week he's scheduled to meet with similar representatives from the United States and Mexico. | | | | | April 12, 2007 | | B.C.'s booming economy continues to set employment records and the Province is acting to prevent floods. Happy Easter everyone! | | | | | April 02, 2007 | | After visiting schools in Mackenzie this week, Pat reviews some of the B.C. Government's latest commitments and iniatitives to make B.C. the best educated, most literate jurisdiction in North America. | | | | | March 31, 2007 | | Pat is happy to hear that CN will be developing a $20 million inland container port in Prince George and applaud the Cougars for sending the Blazers to the golf course after sweeping them in the opening series of the WHL playoffs. | | | | | March 17, 2007 | | With the Conversation on Health taking place this week, Pat reviews some of the top health-care initiatives that the BC Liberal Government has implemented in the north. | | | | | March 10, 2007 | | International Women's Day was this week and Pat wants to express his appreciation to all the women who serve as leaders in the North. | | | | | March 03, 2007 | | Pat talks about B.C.'s new Energy Plan recently unveiled by Minister Richard Neufeld. | | | | | February 23, 2007 | | The provincial government presented Balanced Budget 2007 this week and it's full of great initiatives that are going to help all British Columbians! | | | | | February 19, 2007 | | The 2007 Throne Speech unveiled the structure of the B.C. Government's plan to combat climate change and protect the environment. Pat highlights some of the initiatives. | | | | | February 10, 2007 | | Pat thanks the Guru Gobind Singh Temple Association for their generousity and congratulates The Exploration Place on their WorkLife BC Award. | | | | | February 03, 2007 | | It was another great year for B.C.'s mining industry and a new program at UNBC will see ten Aboriginal Child Protection workers recruited and trained in the North for the North for the first time ever. | | | | | January 27, 2007 | | Pat reviews the rest of the Technology Award winners and talks about some of government's latest initiatives. | | | | | January 20, 2007 | | Pat talks about ten of the awards winners from the Northern BC Business and Technology awards he co-hosted earlier this month with MLA Shirley Bond. | | | | | January 13, 2007 | | 2006 was a great year for British Columbia, and Pat's excited for what 2007 will bring. | | | | | December 16, 2006 | | It's the Christmas 2006 edition of Pat's Top Ten! Check out Pat's suggestions for what to do this holiday season. | | | | | December 09, 2006 | | The Christmas tree has been lit at the Legislature and the provincial government signed two historical treaties with First Nations this week. | | | | | December 02, 2006 | | Pat gets a good laugh out of snow-stricken Victoria and B.C. Cabinet members are overseas promoting British Columbia and its products to the expanding markets in Asia. | | | | | November 25, 2006 | | Pat highlights the BC Natural Resource Forum which will take place January 11-12 at the CN Centre. | | | | | November 20, 2006 | | The BC Lions go for the Grey Cup, the Premier is in Asia promoting BC wood products and a new small-scale salvage license highlight this week's Top 10. | | | | | November 15, 2006 | | Pat reviews some of the B.C. Government's latest initiatives, including a huge increase in funding to Mackenzie in lieu of property taxes for power-producers. | | | | | November 06, 2006 | | Pat reviews the Top Ten things in the Premier's UBCM Speech! | | | | | October 28, 2006 | | Pat's 200th Top Ten is the biggest and best ever! | | | | | October 23, 2006 | | PGX is recognized as one of the best agricultural fairs in the province and Pat looks ahead to this week's annual UBCM Conference. | | | | | October 07, 2006 | | This week's edition highlights those recognized at the Today's Woman Conference. | | | | | September 29, 2006 | | British Columbia is starting on an unprecedented Conversation on Health. Here are some facts and figures to get you thinking about what you want from your health care system. | | | | | September 23, 2006 | | The province continues to create new nursing spaces in post-secondary schools and congratulations to bi-athlete Jessica Sedlock. | | | | | September 16, 2006 | | Pat gives his Top Ten on the first-quarter fiscal results for the 2006/07 budget. | | | | | August 05, 2006 | | A major step forward in treaty negotiations with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation is the big news this week. | | | | | July 29, 2006 | | Topping this week's list: A new, inexpensive and convenient transportation system for patients from Mackenzie needing to travel for medical care. | | | | | July 22, 2006 | | A major surplus and record pay-down of the provincial debt are at the top of this week's list from MLA Pat Bell. | | | | | July 15, 2006 | | More funding for Mackenzie and the Regional District kicks of this week's Top 10 from MLA Pat Bell. | | | | | July 07, 2006 | | Pat picks out his Top 10 recommendations from the BC Competition Council report on building B.C.'s competitiveness. | | | | | July 04, 2006 | | $164,000 for non-profit groups in Prince George leads off this week's Top 10 from MLA Pat Bell. | | | | | June 17, 2006 | | Funding for celebrations in Mackenzie and the naming of a Prince George resident to an important provincial council start off this week's Top 10. | | | | | June 10, 2006 | | Pat starts his summer tour of the province and lists some great news from across B.C. | | | | | June 04, 2006 | | Pat talks about a host of provincial government initiatives having a positive impact in the north. | | | | | May 27, 2006 | | To mark UNBC president Charles Jago's retirement, Pat counts down his Top 10 contributions to northern B.C. | | | | | May 19, 2006 | | Find out some of the top highlights from the first year of the B.C. Liberal Government's second mandate. | | | | | May 13, 2006 | | Great news topping this week's list - Jobs are looking for people in B.C.! | | | | | May 06, 2006 | | Labour settlements for B.C. nurses and doctors, plus more great news in this week's Top 10. | | | | | April 29, 2006 | | The softwood lumber deal reached between Canada and the U.S. after years of tariffs tops this week's Top 10 from Pat Bell. | | | | | April 22, 2006 | | The growing Bio-Energy sector in the B.C. Central Interior is the focus of this week's Top 10 things you didn't hear about in the media. | | | | | April 15, 2006 | | Some great news for the Easter weekend as B.C.'s credit rating gets another boost! | | | | | April 08, 2006 | | The mining industry event of the year will be coming to Mackenzie this month. | | | | | April 01, 2006 | | A range of government grants for local organizations fill out this week's Top 10 behind-the-headlines items from Pat Bell. | | | | | March 17, 2006 | | A special celebration edition of the Top 10: Pat celebrates St. Patrick's Day and his own 49th birthday! | | | | | March 11, 2006 | | In honour of International Women's Day, Pat lists some great news for women in B.C. | | | | | February 24, 2006 | | Find out what the 2006 Provincial Budget means for B.C. and the north in this week's Top 10. | | | | | February 11, 2006 | | From new funding for schools to consultation on cancer care, Pat runs down the Top 10 stories from "behind the headlines". | | | | | February 04, 2006 | | Where does B.C.'s healthcare rank in the country? We're number one! | | | | | January 28, 2006 | | Local companies are making big waves in the technology sector. | | | | | January 21, 2006 | | The good news runs the gamut from First Nations relations to forestry to mining in this week's edition of Pat's Top 10. | | | | | December 19, 2005 | | Pat's top 10 things to do over the holiday season! | | | | | December 10, 2005 | | Pat runs down the highlights of his upcoming fourth annual Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, Jan. 12-13 at the PG Civic Centre. | | | | | November 25, 2005 | | Get the inside scoop on what government accomplished during the fall sitting of the B.C. Legislature. | | | | | November 19, 2005 | | Learn about the jobs and opportunities being created in B.C.'s value-added wood sector. | | | | | November 05, 2005 | | Some great news for firefighters as the province changes Workers' Compensation rules around cancer claims. | | | | | October 29, 2005 | | Read about some people making a difference in our communities. Plus, some great 2010 funding news for Bear Lake. | | | | | October 08, 2005 | | Pat takes a look a the Top 10 developments in Mackenzie, one of northern B.C.'s vital resource communities. | | | | | October 02, 2005 | | Funding for highway rescue and to fight the scourge of Crystal Meth top this week's list. | | | | | September 24, 2005 | | New funds for Sports facilities and a boost to the Northern Development Initiative are just two of the 10 good news items this week. | | | | | September 17, 2005 | | Pat goes through the recent Throne Speech and budget update, and picks out some of the best news to come from balacing B.C.'s books. | | | | | September 10, 2005 | | Pat talks about how you can tap into provincial funding for your non-profit group, and highlights some grant success stories in the community. | | | | | August 06, 2005 | | Pat talks about some of the highlights of being Minister of Agriculture and Lands, and details a number of grants going to local groups. | | | | | July 30, 2005 | | Record capital spending, a squad of locals off to the Canada Games and more in this week's Top 10 from Pat Bell. | | | | | July 23, 2005 | | Funding for forestry research and a new model for delivering services to people with developmental disabilities are just two of this week's highlights. | | | | | July 16, 2005 | | Great news for cattle producers as the U.S. border opens for Canadian cattle. Also Parks Day, and news on First Nations issues. | | | | | July 09, 2005 | | Pat talks about his meeting with agriculture ministers from across Canada and about some other summer news items. | | | | | July 02, 2005 | | Pat kicks off his Canada Day top 10 by looking at some extraordinary local Prince George citizens. | | | | | June 25, 2005 | | Pat outlines his new and diverse list of duties as Minister of Agriculture and Lands. | | | | | June 18, 2005 | | Pat goes through the government's new cabinet, and discusses the ministers and their duties. Good people and strong organization mean this cabinet could be B.C.'s strongest ever! | | | | | April 16, 2005 | | Pat's final top 10 prior to the 2005 provincial election, with a recap of some of the top accomplishments over the last four years in Prince George North. | | | | | April 09, 2005 | | In the coming week, I will be mainly in PG with a short visit to Vancouver and Kamloops mid-week for some mining business. Aside from that, I hope to see you at COFI on Thursday or Friday. | | | | | April 02, 2005 | | One key area that is going well on the Island is the Joint Venture Partnerships developing between Polaris Minerals and several different First Nations. These agreements will create significant benefits for people on the Island through a combination of two large aggregate operations. | | | | | March 26, 2005 | | Last week, I did a Northwest tour starting in Prince Rupert and finishing in Smithers. The mining industry is starting to have an impact on this area and with the summer we are expecting, I think you will see the region really busy. I had 9 speeches in 3 days along with countless media interviews so when I got home Thursday night I was wiped! | | | | | March 19, 2005 | | Great news this week as two more bond-rating agencies upgrading our credit rating. Not only does this mean that we will pay less in interest, but as a province we will become more attractive to the International investment community. The hard work to get our economy back has really paid off. | | | | | March 14, 2005 | | Health care (and specifically cancer treatment) has been in the local news this week so I thought it would be appropriate to review some of the strategies we have put in place to improve heath care in our region. | | | | | March 06, 2005 | | The week started off in Vancouver with the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines on Monday morning and finished with a great announcement of some provincial funding for the Elder Citizens Recreation Assoc (ECRA) where we were able to fund almost $800,000 towards the completion of the expanded centre. | | | | | February 05, 2005 | | This week promises to be a busy one as we are back in the Legislature. Tuesday will be the Speech from the Throne that will outline some of the key initiatives we will be pursuing over the next year. This will be followed by a debate on the Speech and then the budget will follow on Feb. 15. As a member of Treasury Board, it has been really fun this year and I think some of the new initiatives we are bringing forward will really make a difference. | | | | | January 23, 2005 | | The Mining Plan contains four cornerstones: 1. Focus on Communities and First Nations. 2. Protecting Workers, Protecting the Environment. 3. Global Competitiveness. 4. Access to Land. Each of these cornerstones has a series of action steps that we will take over the next few years and this week I want to highlight 10 of the 57 action items. | | | | | December 18, 2004 | | The year 2004 has been a very exciting one for British Columbia, especially Prince George and Mackenzie and I am looking forward to 2005. Whether it's the new medical students at UNBC, the Trades Training facility at CNC, the expansion at Dunkley Lumber, the new Westgate Shopping area, the new mine at Willow Creek or the prospect of a rebuilt Highway 39, I could go on and on. | | | | | December 11, 2004 | | The Christmas season is here - click to read a holiday message from Pat, and also to find out about the upcoming Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, and a hint of big news ahead for Mackenzie. | | | | | November 30, 2004 | | This week's Top Ten is a diverse one, starting with funding for cutting-edge, high-tech research at UNBC leads off this week's Top Ten, and covering everything from tourism expansion to Veterans to the forestry industry. Read all about some of the good news that you might not see in the newspapers this week. | | | | | November 21, 2004 | | The rebirth of B.C.'s mining industry means the call is going out for workers. If you're looking for employment, this could be your golden opportunity to become part of this growing industry. Also read about the change in B.C.'s financial picture, and how you can play a role in how the province spends. | | | | | November 13, 2004 | | It was a time for rememberance across Canada on Nov. 11, and residents of Prince George came out strong to honour the sacrifice and courage of our veterans. The first half of November has also brought some good economic news for the Mackenzie region, and all of B.C. | | | | | November 07, 2004 | | Another huge indicator that B.C.'s economy has really turned the corner tops Pat's list this week. And mining activity continues to pick up pace in our region, with new projects and investments on the horizon. | | | | | October 25, 2004 | | It's time to make cuts in this week's top 10. The provincial sales tax has been cut back a half-percentage, red-tape is being cut at an accelerated pace, and good news on the mining front will contribute to cutting unemployment rates in the north. | | | | | October 17, 2004 | | Fall is here, the days are getting shorter, and so is the time it takes to ship lumber from Prince George to Chicago, thanks to the number one item on Pat's Top 10 List for this week. Click to read some interesting news about the Chicago Express and a major lumber industry expansion project in our region. | | | | | October 09, 2004 | | The big news this week means big dollars invested in Northern B.C. - and communities like Prince George will have a direct say in how those big dollars are spent. Also some the latest news on the strategy to deal with the Pine Beetle and with BSE, as well as more good economic news about our region. | | | | | September 25, 2004 | | Highlights from the Premier's speech to the Union of BC Municipalities meeting in Kelowna. | | | | | September 18, 2004 | | Highlights: more positive economic news; bigger surplus estimated for BC in the First Quarterly Budget report, BC is once again a 'have' province. | | | | | September 11, 2004 | | Highlights - citizenship ceremony at Huble Farm; town hall meeting in Mackenzie; the 2005 BC Achievement Award nomination deadline. | | | | | September 04, 2004 | | Highlights: a new student loan reduction program; construction permits in Prince George. | | | | | August 29, 2004 | | Highlights include: The province's effort to attract exploration in the Bowser and Nechako Basins; Prince Rupert port expansion; and more positive economic news. | | | | | July 24, 2004 | | Highlights: The BC government receives a national mining award; growth in BC's forest sector. | | | | | July 17, 2004 | | Highlights include: local community groups receive grants; northern real estate market is booming. | | | | | July 10, 2004 | | Highlights: Unemployment is down, Real Estate is up and new investments are happening every day; an update on colleague Sindi Hawkins' health. | | | | | July 04, 2004 | | Highlights include new seats for nursing programs. | | | | | June 26, 2004 | | Highlights include health care and a fund to create alternative dispute resolution programs. | | | | | June 19, 2004 | | Highlights include mineral exploration projects and B.C.'s economic outlook. | | | | | June 12, 2004 | | Highlights include the new satisfaction survey results and new jobs in B.C. | | | | | June 05, 2004 | | Highlights include Oil and Gas and the Forest Expo. | | | | | May 22, 2004 | | Highlights include B.C.'s growth and job creation. | | | | | May 15, 2004 | | Highlights include the Northern Medical Program at UNBC and Small Scale Salvage Report. | | | | | May 08, 2004 | | Highlights include: Citizen's Assembly comes to town; Congratulations to Dr. Geoffrey Cowburn of McBride, and Anne Martin and Bob Scott of Prince George. All Three received the first ever British Columbia Community Achievement Awards. | | | | | May 01, 2004 | | The facts as they relate to the current labour dispute with the HEU. | | | | | April 24, 2004 | | Highlights Include the Mining and Coal Industries | | | | | April 17, 2004 | | Highlights include a B.C. Real Estate Board announcement naming Prince George as one of 5 “hidden Gems”; the B.C. Chamber of Commerce conducted a poll revealing an increase in optimism regarding the economy; Prince George has seen a gain of 200 jobs with 600 more full time positions. | | | | | April 03, 2004 | | Highlights include the pine beetle issue and the state of the economy. | | | | | March 27, 2004 | | Highlights include our credit and debt outlook as well as new investments in mineral exploration. | | | | | March 20, 2004 | | Highlights include Tumbler Ridge and Western Canadian Coal. | | | | | March 13, 2004 | | Spring Break Activities | | | | | March 05, 2004 | | Top ten reasons why Mining is going to go through a very rapid growth phase in BC in the coming 2 years. | | | | | February 28, 2004 | | Completion of the Throne Speech and the Budget Speech; Hosting the annual BC Government briefing of the Consular Corps. | | | | | February 21, 2004 | | Highlights of the 2004 Balanced Budget | | | | | February 14, 2004 | | Moving Our Economy Forward | | | | | February 07, 2004 | | Speech from the Throne Week | | | | | January 31, 2004 | | The Cabinet Shuffle and Mining stats/ | | | | | January 24, 2004 | | Oppotunities in Prince George | | | | | January 17, 2004 | | Economic growth and rising temperatures | | | | | January 10, 2004 | | Happy New Year! | | | | | | Recent Photos See the most recent photos of Pat in the community. | | | Video Gallery See the most recent videos of Pat Bell in the community. | | | Follow BC Government Caucus on Twitter Keep up with your BC Liberal Government Caucus | |
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