Message from the Minister of State for
Intergovernmental Relations and
Accountability Statement

As Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, I have a cross-government responsibility to coordinate British Columbia's relationships with Western U.S. states, other provincial governments, the federal government, and with international governments to advance progress on British Columbia's Five Great Goals.

Free trade with the United States is vital for British Columbia's economy. An effective working relationship with the United States is critical to the free flow of goods and services, to increase the level of investment and tourism, and to tackle incidents or disagreements before they become international disputes.

I will focus on promoting strong and effective working relations with the U.S. in order to advocate British Columbia's priority issues and achieve the mutual benefit of maintaining an open border for legitimate trade and travel. My responsibilities will include representing British Columbia at meetings of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and the Council of State Governments – West on a variety of issues of mutual interest, such as economic development, energy, health and wellness initiatives, tourism, climate change and the environment. I will also serve as PNWER Second Vice President Canada in 2005/06. Working closely with Alaska, Washington and Montana, I will promote a greater understanding of transborder air and water quality and of British Columbia's sustainable environmental management practices.

I will also strengthen relations with British Columbia's Consular Corps to assist our government in the promotion of trade, investment and cultural relations.

Strengthening relationships with the other provinces and territories is key to enhancing British Columbia's role in the Federation. I will work toward reaching cooperation agreements with key provinces and ensuring that progress is made on existing agreements such as the BC-Alberta Protocol of Cooperation.

I will continue to advance British Columbia's partnership with the Government of Canada to promote an equitable distribution of federal spending and benefits for British Columbia. Initiatives for which federal support is vital are the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Canada Line Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit project, highway and border infrastructure improvements, Mountain Pine Beetle relief, immigration and the Pacific Gateway to the Asia-Pacific.

In my responsibilities for the Francophone Affairs file, I will continue to work to increase services to the French-language community and to increase federal contributions to provincial programming.

I am the Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, and under the Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act, I am accountable for achieving the following results for 2005/06:

• Promote an equitable distribution of federal spending and benefits for British Columbia by working with ministries to present proposals to the Government of Canada for federal funding under existing or new national programs and/or policy changes. Proposals will be presented to the Government of Canada in the following areas: First Nations; Pacific Gateway investments; policy changes and a federal commitment to a national transportation strategy; national training strategy; and immigration. These proposals shall be presented to the relevant Government Caucus Committee.
• Develop and present to Cabinet proposals for additional cooperation under the Protocol of Cooperation between British Columbia and Alberta.

Honourable John van Dongen
Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations

September 14, 2005