VICTORIA – British Columbia’s upcoming budget will commit an additional $885 million to health funding next year, including a new $100-million fund to promote innovation within the health-care system, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced.

VICTORIA – British Columbia will raise the home owner grant threshold in response to significant increases in property values, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced.

NEW WESTMINSTER – The New Westminster Community Development Society has joined a growing partnership of agencies providing public access to OneStop Business Registry services.

COURTENAY – The City of Courtenay, Village of Cumberland and Town of Comox have joined a growing partnership of local governments that provide business licence applications online through the OneStop Business Registry, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced.

VANCOUVER – B.C.’s economic strengths, continued demand for skilled labour, and the status of the U.S. economy were the main topics of discussion at the Economic Forecast Council meeting today, Finance Minister Carole Taylor said.

VICTORIA – British Columbia plans to introduce new tax credits to support trades training, improve completion rates, and encourage apprenticeships for First Nations individuals and persons with disabilities, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced.

VICTORIA – Stronger tax assessments from 2005 and one-time federal transfers are pushing British Columbia’s forecast surplus to $2.15 billion, despite continued caution on commodity prices and the slowing U.S. economy, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced with the release of the second Quarterly Report for 2006/07.

VICTORIA – The Capital Regional District is among 29 municipalities and regional districts across British Columbia that will receive more than $4 million a year in new or increased property tax grants from provincial Crown corporations, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced today.

VICTORIA – Twenty-nine municipalities and regional districts across British Columbia will receive over $4 million a year in new or increased property tax grants from provincial Crown corporations, Finance Minister Carole Taylor announced.