Strategic Initiatives Office
Linking rural communities
The Strategic Initiatives Office is
responsible for an array of programs, projects
and relationships that further the objectives
of the RuralBC Secretariat.
The unit delivers programs such as
Trees for
Tomorrow,
BC Asia Twinning and the
Resort
Municipality Initiative, the
Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta on Rural
Development, as well as maintaining and enhancing
the corporate relationship with the Economic Trusts
(see links listed under
Resources on the left side
of this page or visit this
page).
As well, the Office supports the cross-government
focus on rural development through inter-agency
collaboration and a
one-stop website and is initiating a review of
policies which would need to be in place to
stimulate the rural economy.
  
Trees for
Tomorrow (Trees) is a five-year, $13-million
program that is supporting community organizations,
First Nations and local governments in urban and
rural areas in planting four million trees in the
public areas of cities, towns, villages and regional
districts throughout B.C. In its first year, the
program is providing approximately $3 million to
support the planting of trees and the implementation
of other energy-saving initiatives across British
Columbia.
The initiative, first announced in the 2008 speech
from the throne, involves cost-sharing with a range
of applicants and stewardship organizations. To
learn more, visit
www.treesfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca
 BC | Asia Twinnings Twinning is
a key element in British Columbia’s Asia Pacific
Initiative, a long-term strategy to diversify our
economic ties with the Asia-Pacific. The Province’s
goal – to position B.C. as the pre-eminent economic
and cultural crossroads between Asia and North
America – could benefit the province by as much as
$76 billion in increased trade and 255,000 jobs by
2020.
The Province and the Union of BC Municipalities
(UBCM) unveiled a new ‘how-to’ tool kit in September
2007 to support local governments in building
twinning relationships, strengthen local economies
and develop cultural ties with Asian communities.
The tool kit provides municipalities with advice on
getting started, establishing arrangements,
maximizing the potential of the agreements over time
and measuring progress.
CONTACT US
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES OFFICE
PO BOX 9853 STN PROV GOVT
VICTORIA BC V8W 9T5
Telephone: 250 356-6386
Fax: 250 387-7972
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