The BC government delivered the Speech from the Throne on February 9th, 2010. While the government’s Press Release emphasized economic growth, assisting young families and health care, there were several highlights for the advanced education sector. Below are excerpts from the Speech from the Throne that caught our attention:

On the Coming Budget:

A new budget will set the foundation for the province we want in 2030, with a new agenda that …modernizes our education system and creates new opportunities for early learning, smarter use of education resources and new choices for students…

On Emily Carr University of Art + Design:

We will build a new campus for the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, near the Centre for Digital Media at the Great Northern Way Campus. It will be a showcase for BC wood, natural building materials and the best in environmental design.

Improvements will be launched in advanced education as well. Legislation will be introduced enabling our universities to remove themselves from the government reporting entity.

We cannot let accounting policy stand in the way of our students’ interests or hold our universities back from pursuing their unique areas of excellence in partnership with others.

On UBC‘s Living Laboratory:

The University of British Columbia’s Living Laboratory initiative will be expanded and enhanced so we all benefit from the new products and new knowledge that it fosters.

On Foreign-Trained Medical Doctors:

The government will increase access to residencies for Canadians who have received their medical undergraduate training outside Canada.

On Public Transit:

The success of the new Canada Line has reinforced government’s commitment to invest record amounts in public transit, fix TransLink and get on with the Evergreen Line.