Geography

British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is located on the Pacific coast, and has a land and freshwater area of 95 million hectares. It is Canada's third largest province and comprises 9.5 percent of the country's total land area. The province is nearly four times the size of Great Britain, 2.5 times larger than Japan, and larger than any American state except Alaska.

The province is bounded by the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho and Montana in the south, Alberta on the east, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon on the north and Alaska on the northwest. From south to north, B.C. stretches 1,200 kilometres, and from east to west, as much as 1,050 kilometres. Its deeply indented, island-dotted coastline extends 7,000 kilometres. The province is blessed with an abundance of waterways in the form of rivers, lakes and streams. Freshwater surfaces total 1.8 million hectares. Major river systems include the Fraser, Columbia, Skeena and Peace Rivers.

Climate

The climate of British Columbia, varying from marine to continental, is determined by prevailing westerly winds, the warm Pacific Ocean, mountainous topography and the province's northerly location. The coastal region has abundant rainfall and mild temperatures associated with a marine climate, and enjoys Canada's longest frost-free periods. In the interior, the climate is continental in nature. The southern interior has the province's driest and warmest climate.

Environment

British Columbia has a rich variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, meadows, wetlands, rivers and inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones. They support the greatest diversity of plants and mammals of any province in Canada. In addition to their diversity, the populations of some species in B.C. have global significance. The province has 75 percent of the world's stone sheep, 60 percent of the mountain goats, 50 percent of the blue grouse, at least half of the trumpeter swans and 25 percent of the grizzly bears and bald eagles.
In order to protect B.C.'s rich biodiversity, while allowing people to continue to earn a living from sustainable natural resources, the provincial government began a series of initiatives in 1992 designed to increase land-use certainty for environmental, economic and community interests. As a part of this initiative the government has developed a Protected Areas strategy, which will increase protected parks and wilderness to 12 percent of the province, based on representative ecosystems.

Provincial Government

British Columbia became a province of Canada when it entered Confederation on July 20, 1871. Legislative powers in B.C. are exercised by a single legislative chamber, which is elected for a maximum five-year term. The legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor and 75 elected members of the legislative assembly.

Population

British Columbia's population of 4.1 million is growing more diverse with a steady influx of newcomers from other parts of Canada and around the world. B.C. is home to a large, culturally diverse and geographically dispersed aboriginal population. The age structure of British Columbia is shaped mainly by the postwar baby boom and subsequent drop in birth rates, which has resulted in a bulge in the population of the 25 to 44 year age group.
€ Over the past ten years, net migration has accounted for 74 per cent of the province's population growth, with natural increase (births minus deaths) contributing the remaining 26 per cent. The origin of immigrants has changed. Historically, the bulk of the immigrant population came from Europe; more recently, however, Asia has become the predominant source. Lifestyles range from cosmopolitan in the metropolitan areas of Vancouver and Victoria to rural in the interior regions and along the Pacific coast.

Labour and Income

British Columbia's employed workforce consists of more than 1.8 million workers - 54 per cent male and 46 per cent female. Most of the work force - 77 per cent, is employed in the provision of services as opposed to 23 per cent employed in the goods-producing sector.

LABOUR MARKET ACTIVITY	2003	2004	2005
Labour Force (000's)	16,958	17,182	17,342
Employment (000's)	15,672	15,947	16,169
Unemployment (000's)	1,286	1,235	1,172
Unemployment rate (%)	7.6	7.2	6.8

Labour relations in the province are governed by the Industrial Relations Act, which encourages the orderly resolution of any labour dispute. The Employment Standards Act regulates conditions of employment including hours of work, payment of wages, minimum wages, annual holidays, maternity benefits and terminations.

Health Care

The provincial government spent $10.0 billion on health programs during 2002/2003. Forty percent of the government's total expenditure was for health care. The Medical Services Plan insures medically required services provided by physicians and health care practitioners. The Pharmacare Program subsidizes eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies, with access based on families' ability to pay. Hospitals and diagnostic and treatment centres located throughout the province deliver acute care services. The Medical Services Plan offers comprehensive coverage of medical care as well as supplementary services. Over 97 percent of British Columbians are covered by the plan.

Education

B.C. currently has the highest education budget in the province’s history. It has grown from $4.59 billion in 2000-01 to $5.07 billion in 2005-06. Funding is now at a record level of $7,097 per student across B.C. The Ministry of Education, Skills and Training is responsible for primary, secondary and post-secondary education. The provincial public school system is a free, universal, non-sectarian system covering all grades from kindergarten to grade 12. Attendance is compulsory for children between 5 and 16 years of age. The system is currently made up of 59 school districts and one Francophone Education Authority. Each district has an elected board of trustees which governs under the School Act.
There are five publicly funded universities in British Columbia: the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, located in the Vancouver area; the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University in Victoria; and the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
British Columbia also has an extensive college and institute system providing academic, technical, vocational, career and adult basic education programs. The programs are administered through 16 community colleges, five institutes and the Open Learning Agency.