One year of working for you By Premier John Horgan

A little over a year ago, I became Premier of B.C.

It’s been a challenging and rewarding year, and I’m energized by everything we’ve been able to do for the people of B.C.

Our priority is working for you, to make life more affordable, improve the services you and your family rely on, and create good jobs and a strong, sustainable economy throughout B.C.

And we’re working collaboratively with the B.C. Green Caucus to deliver a strong, stable government that puts people first.

For too long, too many families in British Columbia struggled to get ahead. Decisions were made to benefit the few at the top, instead of all British Columbians. Our government is making different choices.

To put money back in your pocket, we cut MSP premiums in half, and eliminated tolls on the Golden Ears and Port Mann bridges — saving you hundreds of dollars a year. We’re raising the minimum wage to $15.20/hr by 2021, so people don’t have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. And we’re taking real, concrete, action to make housing more affordable by building supply, curbing demand and giving better protections to renters.

To make sure services are there when you need them, we’re building hospitals and urgent care centres, and cutting wait list times for surgeries and diagnostic tests. We’re investing in transit, building bridges, and repairing roads so British Columbians can get where they need to go. And we’re investing more than a billion dollars in affordable, quality, accessible childcare, so parents and caregivers can rejoin the workforce when they want. An increase in our labour force will give the province’s economy a boost.

To give the workers of today and tomorrow more opportunities and the chance to get ahead, we’re investing in education and trades training. We’re standing up against unfair lumber and steel tariffs and protecting B.C. jobs and industry. And we’re changing the way government purchases services, so small, local, and indigenous-owned businesses have a chance to compete.

To make our elections fairer, we put people back at the centre of our politics. We banned big money, put tighter controls on lobbying, and laid the groundwork for a referendum on proportional representation. People should have their say on how they vote.

This is only the beginning.

As I’ve travelled the province and talked to people this past year, there’s a new sense of hope that help is on the way.

Whether it’s in Kamloops, up in the North, or on the Coast, people are feeling optimistic. There’s so much more to do.

The problems facing B.C. families didn’t appear overnight, and they won’t be fixed overnight. But our government is working collaboratively to get it done, step by step.

I’m excited about what we can accomplish to make life better for people in B.C.

We’re going to keep working hard for you, putting people first, and building a better future, together.