Public Affairs Bureau

Highlights of the Year

Throughout the 2005/2006 fiscal year, the Public Affairs Bureau (PAB) has supported government priorities by communicating the province's policies and programs to the public in a proactive, consistent and informative manner. Following are some examples of key initiatives and announcements supported by the Bureau:

  • Negotiating Framework — PAB provided strategic and tactical communications support for the government's Negotiating Framework file. PAB staff performed a liaison function with key labour relations ministries and employers to ensure communications planning, coordination of information flow, alerts on emerging issues, media relations and media summaries.
  • Central Coast and North Coast land use decisions — A video and print news releases were distributed by PAB to more than 135 countries and more than 80,000 journalists. As a direct result of using this service, the announcement achieved more than 350 media hits. International media included London, South Africa, Germany and Russia. The announcement also made the front page of the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.
  • Providing British Columbians with information on government programs, policies and services — PAB staff worked with ministry program staff to develop and implement several campaigns such as: helping seniors live well campaign which promoted changes to the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) and Seniors Supplement; the QuitNow campaign to inform smokers about the tools and information available to help them quit smoking; the Fire Smart campaign to remind British Columbians about ways they can help to prevent forest fires; and the When Your Luck Runs Out campaign to promote the problem gambling help line. The Seniors' campaign increased calls to the Seniors' Information Line by 35 per cent.
  • Introduction of Really Simple Syndication (RSS) News Feeds — The Writing Services and Online Communications units collaborated on the introduction of new RSS technology that allows the public to subscribe to government news feeds at no charge so they receive government news releases instantly when they are published to the Internet. The technology allows wider distribution of materials with no additional ongoing administrative work or costs for the Bureau.
  • Government announcements and events — PAB staff coordinated over 100 government announcements and events, including the government display exhibit at the Union of BC Municipalities convention and the 2006/07 Budget lockup and related activities. The Bureau's Writing and Editorial Services Unit issued a total of 736 news releases in 2005/2006.
  • Brochures, reports and display aids — Bureau staff worked on over 280 design projects (including brochures, reports and display aids to support government communications) and produced over 200 print display advertisements.
  • Online Communications — PAB published mini-websites in support of current issues of the day (i.e., Teachers, BC Child Protection, Spirit Bear, Negotiation Framework); developed new templates so ministries can revamp their websites; and, enhanced the government website with audio and video webcasts on the BC Government Media Room.
  • Annual Budget Lockup — each year PAB staff organize the largest press conference in the province: the annual budget lockup. It is an event that brings together all of the province's major media, senior staff from across government, and a highly diverse group of stakeholders. Months of planning and preparation are required to ensure that lockup participants have the facilities and information they need to properly analyze the budget and communicate it to their audiences and members. PAB staff prepare a wide range of communications materials to supplement the technical documents, including news releases, backgrounders, highlights packages, web presentations, and translated materials for B.C.'s growing multicultural community. The Bureau provides audio-visual equipment to support the finance minister's presentation, and arranges technical facilities for about 100 journalists and more than 200 stakeholders. Media Relations Officers assist journalists and others with questions about the budget. All of this work is accomplished in a secure environment so that details of the budget are not released prior to the minister delivering the budget speech in the House.
  • Small Business Roundtable — announced in October 2005, PAB staff supported the permanent Small Business Roundtable, which provides a platform for ongoing dialogue with small business owners and operators across British Columbia. To date, the Roundtable has held 18 sessions at various locations across the province. Lists of issues and opportunities arising from these sessions are compiled for the Minister of Small Business and Revenue on an ongoing basis.
  • Provincial Sales Tax Review — this Review involves a series of consultations with small business, industry and individuals to obtain their input on revenue-neutral ways to streamline, simplify and enhance the fairness of provincial sales tax. PAB staff prepared media advisories and news releases, as well as speaking notes for events occurring before and after sessions (e.g., chamber of commerce breakfasts). Where possible, visits to local retailers have provided quality photo opportunities and timely photo updates for the ministry website.
  • BC launches initiative to reduce surgery wait times — a $60.5 million initiative to reduce wait times for hip and knee surgeries and maximize the number of surgeries was announced at a news conference held at the University of British Columbia Hospital. PAB staff were involved in the strategic communications to support the wait list management strategy. This included two technical briefings to the media (including one video conferencing briefing between Victoria and Ottawa), news releases, speaking notes, proactive and reactive media management, presentations and overhauling the surgical wait list website to make it more reliable, dependable and rigorous.
  • BC first to fund drug to benefit breast cancer patients — B.C. was the first province to approve and cover the cost of the drug Herceptin for all eligible breast cancer patients. The announcement was made through coordinated media relations between the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Cancer Agency.
  • Ongoing funding increase for youth addictions and crystal meth — B.C. increased annual funding by $8 million for crystal meth treatment options and youth addictions services, including increasing bed capacity for youth with addictions and building treatment programs and supports for crystal meth users. PAB staff coordinated the news conference in Vancouver and coordinated a series of unified regional news releases through each of the five regional health authorities.
  • Health Insurance BC continues to deliver record level of service — throughout 2005/06 PAB staff managed the issues around the transfer of the Medical Services Plan and PharmaCare services to Health Insurance BC, operated by Maximus BC. It culminated in a news release announcing all services levels had been met. PAB staff were instrumental in assisting in public reports on the quarterly performance and ensuring that the goals, purposes and objectives were communicated.
  • Report on health care options for Surrey Memorial Hospital — PAB staff coordinated the response to recommendations in December 2005 in a government-endorsed report to relieve demand at Surrey Memorial Hospital and allow for future service. PAB organized the release of the report, issues management, a news conference in Surrey, tour of the new unit in cooperation with communications staff at Fraser Health.
  • ActNow BC — PAB staff are actively communicating the cross-government ActNow BC program. In 2005/06, this included organizing events announcing $30 million in health promotion through partnerships with the BC Healthy Living Alliance and 2010 LegaciesNow. PAB also helped communicate the launch of measures to improve student health through the investment of $3.8 million to help improve the health of B.C. students. PAB also was instrumental in legislative amendments to the Tobacco Sales Act that were successfully introduced to reduce sale of tobacco to minors. Additional ActNow BC initiatives communicated by PAB in news releases, at events and in overall messaging across government. Other events with PAB involvement included $4.2 million through ActNow BC to provide B.C. communities with information, resources and support for healthy lifestyles; a $5-million grant in April 2005 to the Union of BC Municipalities to help kick start local government involvement in building healthier communities throughout the province.
  • Mining Job Fairs Promote Careers in Booming Industry — The Mining Rocks — Career and Job Opportunities Tour 2006 made more than 20 stops throughout British Columbia during the months of February, March, April and May. By hosting a job fair dedicated to careers in mining and mining-related fields, the ministry was able to connect local residents with the high-paying jobs being created and at the same time support the continued expansion of this important industry in B.C. PAB staff prepared news releases and media advisories, as well as speaking notes and administrated advertising in print and radio to promote the job fair venues. Bureau staff also provided publication and communications collateral management to assist in the development of a suite of communications materials to promote the job fairs. A webpage was also established to advertise and support the initiative.
  • Thompson Rivers University — the new Thompson Rivers University, the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and Okanagan College all opened their doors to students in 2005/2006. PAB staff worked closely with the new institutions on various events to celebrate the expansion of educational opportunities in B.C.'s Interior and to link the development of these institutions with the 25,000-seat expansion of the province's public post-secondary education system. Products developed included news releases, backgrounders, speaking notes and communications plans.
  • Firefighters' cancer risk recognized — changes to the Workers Compensation Act have put B.C. among the leaders in recognizing the increased cancer risk faced by professional and volunteer firefighters. In October and November of 2005, legislation was introduced to recognize certain cancers as occupational diseases associated with long-term employment as a firefighter. PAB staff helped coordinate a recognition event with more than 100 members of the B.C. Professional Firefighters' Association in the rotunda of the Legislature, including news release writing, timely web posting of photos from the event and providing a commemorative scroll for the occasion.
  • Making B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent — to help fulfill that goal, PAB staff coordinated a series of announcements and events, including the Province's distribution of a set of booklets to parents of kindergarten and Grade 1 students. The booklets — Reading for Families and Writing for Families — provide useful tips, ideas and activities for parents and guardians who want to help their children with reading and writing at home. Both booklets were written by PAB staff with assistance from program staff, and the Bureau's graphics staff to create the overall look of the booklets (graphics, photographs, layout, etc.). PAB staff planned an event at a Vancouver elementary school and prepared a news release and speaking notes for Minister Bond. At the event, Minister Bond worked with students on an activity suggested in one of the booklets (i.e., a word hunt).
  • Minister Bond's tour of B.C. school districts — a commitment made in the Speech from the Throne — PAB staff have created and maintain a website that enables the general public to track the Minister's progress including the Minister's journal entries, highlights of the tour and photographs, school district information and a provincial map. In addition, Bureau staff provided media relations support during the Minister's visits to school districts and provide the Minister with profiles of each district.
  • Crystal Meth — helped to promote government's commitment to deal with the growing problem of crystal meth. After the Premier announced a $7 million dollar, fully integrated meth strategy under the auspices of the ministry's own Crystal Meth Secretariat, PAB staff (PSSG) supported the initiative by helping to organize a series of highly successful community forums across the province in Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George, Courtenay and Richmond. In addition, an event with Union of BC Municipalities and key stakeholders helped to promote a $2 million community grant program to help fight the meth problem at a grassroots level. Bureau staff also produced a brochure and facilitated media interviews on this important topic for the minister. This announcement was made on site at an event at the Vancouver Coastal Health authority and was attended by all major media. PAB staff are now working with the Crystal Meth Secretariat on a public and school based information campaign to further raise awareness of this dangerous drug.
  • Queen of the North Ferry Sinking — following the sinking of a BC ferry near Hartley Bay March 22, 2006, PAB sent staff to Prince Rupert and coordinated the Incident Command Centre. Communications tools included a dedicated website with information bulletins, news releases, technical information updates, and charts, which made for quick and easy access for media. PAB staff also organized a visit to the area by the Environment Minister, who toured the spill site. PAB continues to field media requests, which now go through the Environmental Protection staff.
  • Cheakamus River CN Rail Derailment — after a CN Railways train derailed August 5, 2005, spilling caustic soda into the Cheakamus River and killing all fish present in that part of the river at the time, PAB staff worked with other agencies such as the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Squamish First Nation and the District of Squamish. A multi-partnered task force was struck to develop a recovery plan for the Cheakamus River. Bureau staff set up internal communications protocols with task force members and provided regular media updates focused mainly at providing accurate information to all stakeholders. Also organized event for the Environment Minister, who helped stock pink salmon smolts into the Cheakamus. Main area of contention for public affairs to deal with was whether ministry would restore habitat naturally, or stock the river with hatchery steelhead.
  • The New Relationship — the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation developed a partnership with the leaders from the First Nations Summit, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and the Assembly of First Nations (Leadership Council) that resulted in a New Relationship — an agreement between government and First Nations to develop cooperative approaches to manage land and resource development and improve socio-economic conditions for First Nations across the province. PAB staff have played and will continue to play a significant role in communicating this initiative to the public.
  • First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues in Kelowna — this national gathering was the first of its kind between First Ministers and Aboriginal Leaders in more than a decade. The Prime Minister, Provincial Premiers and Aboriginal leaders from around Canada committed to a joint plan to improve health, housing, education, economic development and improving government relations with First Nations and Aboriginal people over the next decade. PAB staff played a key role in liaising with the federal government, the Premier's office and First Nations to organize this event and communicate messages about its significance to a national audience.
  • Enacted the $100-million New Relationship Trust Act — which will provide long-term capacity-building funding for First Nations. Announced in the September 2005 Budget Update, PAB staff supported the Minister and ministry with a range of materials to communicate the details about this trust fund and its goals to the public.
  • Contributed an additional $1 million towards First Nation language preservation — this funding will support language immersion programs and the expansion of First Voices technology into Aboriginal communities. This reconciliation initiative and funding announcement was made by the Premier during the First Citizens Forum at the Wosk Centre in Vancouver. PAB staff coordinated the event and associated communications materials for the Minister, Premier and senior executive staff.
  • Signing of two Agreements-in-Principle with the Yekooche and Yale First Nations. —PAB staff prepared suite of publication materials, and organized tripartite provincial approval and tripartite signing ceremonies.
  • Community Action Grants for Women's Safety — is a $1 million program enabling community and provincial organizations to develop collaborative and lasting projects that address domestic violence. Priority is given to projects that address safety for Aboriginal women, immigrant and visible minority women, older women, and women with disabilities. In January 2006, PAB staff distributed a province-wide news release announcing the program, and also helped facilitate a print advertising campaign that encouraged community groups to apply for funding. In March 2006 the Bureau issued news releases announcing grant recipients. In the fall of 2006 Bureau staff will provide communications support for a best practices conference, where grant recipients will share their experiences.
  • Women's Mentoring Project — PAB staff assisted with the launch of a new mentoring project called Empowered to Work. This project makes the mentoring programs of four well respected organizations (Minerva, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), GT Hiring Solutions and the Women's Enterprise Centre) available to women entering or re-entering the workforce. As one of the mentoring programs involves women in the trades, Bureau staff arranged for the Minister to make the initial announcement at a working construction site. The strong visuals helped garner significant media coverage.
  • Release of the Gateway Program Definition Report — the announcement of the completion of the Gateway Program Definition Report was made on January 31st, 2006. The Gateway Program is our plan to meet the needs of our growing economy, increasing Asia-Pacific trade, and a growing population. PAB was responsible for coordinating the announcement and providing the materials for the Premier's speech and visual presentation. To support the announcement, staff organized a news conference and provided a news release, background material and report documents. This event resulted in extensive positive media coverage from all major media outlets in the Lower Mainland.
  • Building public confidence in the justice system — PAB staff support the Attorney General and ministry in building public confidence in the justice system. Bureau staff are often challenged to present complicated technical and legal information to media in a timely way that the public can understand. In 2005/2006, to promote openness and transparency in communications, Bureau staff provided technical information to media on two high profile cases: expenses of the Air India trial, and the appeal and subsequent decision of the Jenny Woloshyn case. Staff organized media briefings with the Attorney General as lead spokesperson and ministry staff for support and, for Air India, provided fact sheets detailing expenditures. The media briefings on the Jenny Woloshyn case were well-attended and contributed to positive, accurate media coverage of the issue.
  • Promoting B.C.'s cultural diversity — PAB staff also work to promote B.C.'s cultural diversity as one of the province's greatest advantages. In 2005/2006 Bureau staff worked to improve government presence in ethnic media with the submission of bi-weekly op eds on topics that are timely and relevant to the Indo-Canadian and Asian communities. The op-eds are translated and receive good pickup in major ethnic media. In addition, the Bureau staffed very popular booths at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival and the Vasaikhi parade where hundreds of translated government publications were distributed to the Chinese and Indo-Canadian community.
  • Building a strong economy and business climate in B.C. — The Ministry of Economic Development continued to contribute toward building a strong economy and business climate in B.C. through 2005/06. As B.C. took advantage of excitement and preparations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a growing and prosperous economy, PAB staff delivered high quality, high impact communications support to support the ministry's achievements including: over 130 news releases on infrastructure announcements (regional and province-wide); 29 news releases completed as new Ministry of Economic Development with responsibility for Asia Pacific and the Olympics; over $5 million in earned media (domestic, national and international) for BC Canada Place in Torino, Italy — public relations value is estimated at $30 million with an audience reach of 47 million during three months; BC Canada Place hosted over 100,000 visitors at Torino Winter Olympics; launched the Guide for Business Opportunities in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This publication gives companies early access to information, and advice about how they can grow and prosper from the 2010 Winter Games; to support the vision of the new minister, PAB staff created a 'vision' speech for the Minister which was redrafted into 50 individual speeches for speaking opportunities; provided logistical support for the Minister's trip to Asia (China, Hong Kong and Japan) over three weeks involved planning with four embassies and countless event organizers to create over 23 speeches and greetings for over 83 events and development of media plans for three countries with a dozen reporters based in Asia and coordination with domestic and ethnic media with media advisories, fact sheets, trade data, itineraries and news releases.
  • Creating balance in public discussion — one of the key roles of the Public Affairs Bureau is to stimulate public discussion of topical issues, while ensuring this dialogue is balanced and informed with accurate information. Reform of B.C.'s income assistance system, for example, is one such public policy area where discussion is ongoing and often emotional — with news stories, editorials and letters-to-the-editor regular features in community and daily papers around the province. For example, the PAB Employment and Income Assistance Communications Office, is encouraging fact-based public discussion by correcting misinformation about the government's policies, programs and supports for low income British Columbians — and putting forward clear explanations of how the public benefits. In the last half of the 2005/06 fiscal year, PAB staff have sent 25 responses to newspapers throughout B.C., with a publication rate approaching 60 per cent. Letters have been printed in communities including Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops, Clearwater and Prince George.
  • Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan — created new display on government's mountain pine beetle action plan for trade shows, conferences, backdrops for events; announced how $100 million federal funding for mountain pine beetle would be spent at Premier's news conference in Vancouver (led BCTV Noon news that day and front page of Globe and Mail Business Section above the fold with photo); announced at separate events in 100 Mile House (April) and Prince George (September) funding to support the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition and Omineca Beetle Action Coalition economic diversification business planning; and as announced at an event at the University of British Columbia, $1.4 million to a Chair in Advanced Wood Processing — seeking out new uses for beetle-wood and new value added wood products.
  • First Nations Forestry Agreements — demonstrated government's commitment to the New Relationship through continuing to sign forestry agreements with First Nations; and, at an event held concurrent to the annual Truck Loggers Annual Convention in downtown Vancouver, celebrated the signing of a forestry agreement with the 100th First Nation, Leqamel, from the Fraser Valley.
  • BC Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide — created and funded in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, 2010 LegaciesNow and Tourism British Columbia, the BC Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide has been developed as an online database. PAB staff facilitated the announcement of the guide at British Columbia - Canada House in Torino the day before the opening of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. PAB contributions to the launch included news release and backgrounder, event planning, Qs&As, and speaking notes for Minister and Deputy Minister.
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