Some highlights from B.C.’s latest speech from the throne

VICTORIA – Some highlights from the B.C. government’s latest speech from the throne, delivered Tuesday by Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon:

— The throne speech repeats Premier Christy Clark’s lofty vision for the liquefied natural gas industry, including that it could create 100,000 and eliminate the province’s debt. The speech is still short on specifics about how the industry will be regulated and taxed, saying only that those details will be worked out “this year.”

— The Liberals will introduce a motion to formally apologize for historical wrongs done to the Chinese-Canadian community. The promise was overshadowed by controversy last year after a memo surfaced that suggested the party planned to use such an apology to shore up votes ahead of the provincial election.

— The government will create a 10-year skills training plan aimed at helping young people enter the workforce, along with measures to help older workers retrain.

— The Liberals plan to spend the next year developing a 10-year transportation plan that will identify the areas of B.C. with the greatest need for investment.

— The province will continue to pursue its goal of a 10-year labour agreement with teachers, although the B.C. Teachers’ Federation has publicly rejected a deal of that length.

— The government will introduce a long-term plan to address domestic violence against Aboriginal and vulnerable women, following up on an announcement last week that a three-year, $5.5-million program is in the works.

— Legislation will be passed to modernize the province’s liquor laws by implementing a series of changes, such as allowing alcohol sales in grocery stores, that were outlined in a report released late last month.

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