|
Dear Neighbour,
Earlier last month, David Eby was sworn in as our 37th Premier. The ceremony was held at the Musqueam Community Centre in Vancouver, the first time a swearing-in ceremony was hosted by a First Nation in BC. Since then, he has been working to improve health care, address housing concerns, and work to make our communities safer. In just a few weeks we have seen announcements coming from our government showing our commitment to improving the lives of all British Columbians.
|
|
Cost-of-living credits
We have brought in new measures to help ease the pressure of global inflation. BC Hydro residential customers should see a $100 credit applied to their accounts in December. Commercial customers should see a credit also applied to their accounts. The average credit for commercial customers will be approximately $500, but that amount will be based on the previous year's electricity consumption.
Eligible individuals and families will automatically receive the new BC Affordability Credit through the Canada Revenue Agency, the same way the enhanced Climate Action Tax Credit was received in October. An eligible person with an income of up to $36,901 will receive the maximum BC Affordability Credit with the credit fully phasing out at $79,376 of income. An eligible family of four with a household income of $43,051 will get the maximum amount, with the credit fully phasing out at an income of $150,051.
|
|
New child care fee reductions start today!
Starting today, our government has reduced child care fees again–this time by as much as $550 more per eligible child per month, for families accessing care at participating licensed child care centres. Find out more about the program here, There is also an online calculator to see if your child is eligible and for how much. Click here to access the calculator.
|
|
Tackling the Housing Crisis
Everyone deserves to have a good life in BC, and that includes being able to find a decent home to live in. We have already taken steps to curb speculation and build more homes, and we are continuing this work by passing legislation to help get homes built faster, turn more vacant properties into livable homes for renters, and remove unfair restrictions on strata housing that restricts families who are looking for homes. We will also be working with our municipal partners to target areas with the greatest need for housing.
In 2023, the allowable residential rent increase will be capped at 2%. The Province will also help to build more student housing, such as the previously announced 362-bed student housing at CapU scheduled to start next year. Learn more about our government's plan here.
|
|
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community
That is why we are launching the Safer Communities Action Plan (SCAP). SCAP will lay out steps at the provincial level to make communities safer through enforcement and intervention services.
We will be bringing together coordinated response teams of police, prosecutors, and probation officers, as well as expanding mental health crisis response teams into more communities so people in crisis can get support from dedicated community members, and allow police to focus on responding to crime. Through these actions and more to come, we are taking violent crime seriously, and getting closer to the root causes to stop these crimes from occurring. Find out all about it here.
|
|
New medical school announced
Our government announced numerous new healthcare initiatives, including details of the first new medical school in Western Canada in the last 55 years. SFU's Surrey campus will be home to BC's second medical school, and it is expected to be up and running in September 2026, with graduates in 2030. Read more about it here.
|
|
More internationally trained doctors will be allowed to practice
The Province is also expanding the Practice Ready Assessment program, which is a pathway for internationally-educated family doctors to be licensed to work in BC. The program will triple from 32 seats to 96 seats by March 2024.
International medical graduates (IMGs) who are not eligible for full or provisional licensure in BC may be eligible to work for a new "associate physician" class of registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. This allows them to work under the supervision of an attending physician within the acute-care setting.
I know how important health care is to all of us. Our government is working hard to remove barriers and improve BC's healthcare. You can read about these initiatives and other healthcare improvements here.
Tentative agreement reached with BC Family Doctors
The Province, Doctors of BC, and BC Family Doctors have reached a tentative agreement to address concerns over the payment model and to help attract and retain family physicians.
The Province has also reached a tentative agreement with 22,000 health-science professionals (medical technologists, lab workers, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers and physiotherapists workers), as well as ratified agreements with 60,000 workers in hospitals, care homes, logistics and supply facilities represented by the Hospital Employees Union, 49,000 public school teachers and over 30,000 public service workers represented by BCGEU.
|
|
A safe space for patients seeking emergency mental health opens at Lions Gate Hospital
Residents needing emergency help with mental health and/or addiction have a new safe place on the North Shore to receive care. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) opened a new Psychiatric Emergency Assessment and Treatment (PEAT) area at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH). 8 dedicated spaces have opened up in a specialized section of the emergency unit that will be staffed by mental health doctors and nurses. Learn more about it here.
|
|
Save the date!
Open House
Wednesday, December 14th, from 2 PM till 6 PM
Please join us for our Holiday Open House for nibbles, warm drinks, and a chance to chat about things! We will be open from 2 PM till 6 PM that day for the open, but we will be closed earlier in the day to allow us to prepare. Be there or be square!
|
|
Chats with Chant!
Join me at the library on December 6th. I will be at the Lynn Valley branch from 2 PM till 3 PM, and the Parkgate branch from 7 PM till 8 PM.
|
|
|
We have some beautiful paintings hanging in our office by artist Tiffany Reid. Please come in and have a look-see. They are spectacular!
|
|
Have your say:
Gig Work
Gig work is an income-earning activity outside of standard employer-employee relationships. BC is reviewing the conditions these workers face in their job to ensure appropriate standards are in place. If you are a gig worker, please click here and fill out the survey. It is open till 4 PM on January 6, 2023. We want to know what are the benefits and what are the challenges you face. |
|
Guides and Players
Do you know any students looking for a great summer employment opportunity? The legislature is currently recruiting Tour Guides and Parliamentary Players for Summer 2023. The work runs for approximately 4 months from May till the beginning of September and the work is located in Victoria, If you know any students that may be interested in this fun bit of employment, let them know. For more info and to apply: http://bcleg.ca/jobs.
|
|
As always, if you have questions or need any assistance with provincial supports, or have questions about any provincial issue, please reach out. My office can be contacted at 604-983-9859 or by emailing us at susie.chant.mla@leg.bc.ca, or by stopping by. We look forward to assisting you.
Take care,
Susie
|
|
Office Hours
Our office is open from 10 till 5 PM on Monday and Friday, and from 9 AM till 5 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The office is closed for lunch from noon till 1 PM.
Due to the nature of our work, sometimes we may be closed for meetings, or we may be out of office to attend events, so it is best to call ahead. Our phone number is 604 983 9859.
We are located at 217 - 1233 Lynn Valley Road, (the same complex at the Lynn Valley library) and we are located above the Vancity Credit Union.
|
|
|
|
|
