Year-at-a-Glance Highlights

Vancouver 2010: The Province championed the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Immense effort on the part of the 2010 Bid Committee, the provincial and federal governments, private companies and individual British Columbians contributed to the successful bid, which was announced on July 2, 2003.

Joint BC/Alberta Cabinet Meeting: In June 2003, B.C. and Alberta created a protocol under which they agreed to co-operate and work together to improve their purchasing power, public service delivery and international marketing opportunities. In October, Premiers Gordon Campbell and Ralph Klein followed this up by leading the first joint cabinet meeting between their provinces in over 20 years. The cabinets met to explore opportunities for joint initiatives to expand provincial trade and investment opportunities, increase government efficiency, identify best practices and innovations, and share expertise. Topics included B.C. and Alberta in Confederation; the 2010 Olympics; health; agriculture; oil and gas; education; children and family development; transportation initiatives; and trade and economic development. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Protocol of Co-operation; ministers also signed Memoranda of Understanding on child welfare, learning and tourism. The two premiers also agreed to lead a joint Alberta-B.C. business mission to California's Silicon Valley and Houston, Texas, in October. The second joint Cabinet meeting was held in Prince Rupert on May 25-26, 2004.

Premier's Trade Missions: In September 2003, the Premier met with the Western Governors' Association and other western premiers in Montana to promote greater access to the U.S. market for Canadian softwood lumber and cattle and beef exports.

In October 2003, the Premier joined Alberta Premier Ralph Klein on a trade mission to California's Silicon Valley and Houston, Texas. In particular, Premier Campbell promoted opportunities in B.C.'s high-tech, energy and forestry sectors. The Premier also travelled to New York to meet with business and investment leaders and media, to build awareness about B.C.'s revitalized economy and competitive investment opportunities.

In November, the Premier led trade missions to China and India. In China, the Premier attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Dream Home China project, which will provide B.C.'s forest industry with a central location to promote B.C. products and expertise in China; signed a Letter of Intent between Forestry Innovation Investment and Chinese developers to build 205 wood-frame houses near the Dream Home site; promoted ongoing educational exchanges between B.C. and China; and delivered speeches highlighting B.C.-China business opportunities, especially in forestry. In India, the Premier met with top government ministers and executives from India's leading companies to promote opportunities in various sectors in B.C., and signed an educational exchange agreement between Kwantlen College and Guru Nanak Dev University.

Federal Agenda: The Premier continued to work to advance British Columbia's interests with the federal government, agreeing in July 2003 to meet annually with the Premier of Quebec; chairing Canada's Western Premiers' Conference in Kelowna in June 2003, attending the 2003 Annual Premiers' Conference in July 2003, and a joint cabinet meeting with Alberta in October 2003, announcing the Council of the Federation with Canada's Premiers in December 2003, hosting the first meeting of the Council of the Federation in February 2004, at which Canada's Premiers called for renewal of health care, and securing $100 million in initial federal aid to help meet costs associated with B.C.'s wildfires in 2003.

Provincial Congresses: In March 2003, the Province held its second Provincial Congress. One in a series of dialogues introduced in the Throne Speech of 2001, the Congress helps to establish an understanding of British Columbia's issues so that all the province's elected representatives can work together on a B.C. agenda that will meet the needs of all constituents. The Congress brings together all British Columbia's Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament and Senators, mayors from the province's 15 largest cities, the presidents of the five regional municipal associations, the President of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, and aboriginal leaders. During 2003/04, the Premier also led the Cabinet Meeting with First Nations Summit chiefs in Vancouver (Sept. 17, 2003) and attended the Pine Beetle Symposium in Quesnel (Nov. 21, 2003).