Great news for Prince George - Bell and Bond (Local MLAs) in Cabinet in New Roles

By 250 News

Monday, March 14, 2011 01:09 PM

Prince George, B.C. – Christy Clark has been sworn in as B.C.’s 35^th Premier.

Her cabinet has also been sworn in, and there are major changes.

Local MLAs, Shirley Bond  and Pat Bell  are part of the cabinet although they are in very different posts.  Bond is now the  Minister in charge of Public Safety and the Solicitor General.  Bell is now the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.

Clark has welcomed back Blair Lekstrom not only to the Liberal  caucus but to Cabinet as well.  She has also rewarded  Harry Bloy, the lone member of the Liberal Caucus, who supported her leadership bid.

Cabinet is smaller, "Our new cabinet will reflect the priorities of British Columbians and put families at the centre of all our decision-making," said Premier Clark. "Together, we will focus on creating jobs and building a strong economy because that is the single most important thing we can do to
support families and ensure we can invest in critical services like health and education. This is a team that will work hard to ensure that prosperity and opportunity extend to every region of our province."

The new cabinet is made up of 17 ministers plus the premier, reduced from the previous total of 24. This includes the new Ministry of Jobs,Tourism and Innovation, which will bring together many of the functions in government focused on job creation under a single ministry. As well, three new cabinet committees reflect the priorities of government - the Committee on Families First; the Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth; and the Committee on Open Government and Engagement.

Responsibility for colleges and universities has been recombined under the Ministry of Advanced Education; responsibility for mining has been returned to the Ministry of Energy and Mines; Labour and Citizen Services have been combined; and Forests and Lands has been combined
with Natural Resource Operations.

The new cabinet appointed and sworn into office today is:
* Premier - Hon. Christy Clark
* Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance - Hon. Kevin Falcon
* Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation - Hon. Mary Polak
* Minister of Advanced Education - Hon. Naomi Yamamoto
* Minister of Agriculture - Hon. Don McRae
* Attorney General - Hon. Barry Penner
* Minister of Children and Family Development - Hon. Mary McNeil
* Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development - Hon. Ida Chong
* Minister of Education - Hon. George Abbott
* Minister of Energy and Mines (minister responsible for Housing) -Hon. Rich Coleman
* Minister of Environment - Hon. Terry Lake
* Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations - Hon. Steve Thomson
* Minister of Health - Hon. Michael de Jong
* Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation - Hon. Pat Bell
* Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government - Hon.Stephanie Cadieux
* Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General - Hon. Shirley Bond
* Minister of Social Development (minister responsible for multiculturalism) - Hon. Harry Bloy
* Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure - Hon. Blair Lekstrom

Additionally, 10 MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries, and will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government.

Rich Coleman will serve as the Government House Leader and Terry Lake will be the deputy Government House Leader. Ben Stewart will be the Government whip.

"We want British Columbians to have the opportunity to be more engaged with government decision-making," said Premier Clark. "We will work with citizens to find solutions to problems, set priorities openly and explain why we make the decisions we do. British Columbia is starting
from a position of strength. It is up to us to build on this strength for the betterment of families across our province."

This copy courtesy of:

Best regards

Dean Birks

Top Office Producer 2010

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate blog

Feb 2011 Initiatives PG Newsletter

Thought you would be interested. Feb.2011
http://www.initiativespg.com/Documents/FINAL_Feb_2011_Newsletter2.pdf Best regards,
Dean Birks
Top Office Producer 2010
Royal LePage Prince George
250-612-1709

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate blog

Now that's a lot of snow!

I bet my fellow REALTORs in Vancouver would like to show homes in this.

Cheers
Best regards,
Dean Birks
Top Office Producer 2010
Royal LePage Prince George
250-612-1709

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate blog

March 18, 2011 - Time is running out on 35 year amortization and 90% re-finance

Below is an email I received today and thought some of you may be interested. Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

Top Office Producer 2010

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

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Now that banks and lenders have raised their fixed rates across the board from .15 to .25%, the next question is... what next?  Are they going to continue to rise?  Quicky? Slowly?  It partly depends on who you listen to and partly what you believe.  The majority of people whose opinions are listened to predict that interest rates will rise sooner than later and quicker than we expect.  Food prices are rising around the world fueling unrest but also attracting investment.  Predictions of higher commodity prices and bond rates are causing "upward pressure" on mortgage rates.  Investors in mortgages are going to place their money where it gets them the most money.  

Many are locking in to protect themselves against future rate increases.  And that is not a bad idea.  5 year fixed mortgage rates around 4% are a very good thing.  Others who feel there is still time to work the variable rates in their favor are feeling that rates will remain where they (maybe even wiggle up and down for the next while) and bank prime will remain @ 3.00% until summer.  The general consensus is that as rates do rise, it will be very gradually.  A gentle massage to bring the economy back to stability...predictability.  The stuff plans are made of.

I'm not sure what is going to happen in the next six to twelve months as I read conflicting reports.  It seems as if everybody is looking through a different microscope.  

Facts:  everyone can and will be able to purchase with 5% down.  Starting March 19th maximum allowable amortization (the total length of time your mortgage payments are based on) will be reduced from 35 years to 30 years.  That means the same payment will qualify for 6% less in mortgage funds.
Starting March 19th any one re-financing their home for any reason will be restricted to the same 30 year amortization and only allowed 85% of the current market value of their property.  That means even with rates remaining the same, someone with a $300,000 home can access $270,000 today.  On March 19th the limit will be $239,700.
Most banks and lenders have declared they will follow with the same amortization limits on their conventional deals (deals with greater than 20% down payments and not needing CMHC to back the mortgage).  Those lenders who have not yet announced they will also reduce amortization limits to 30 years...will.  You can count on it.
Recommendations?:  Take a look at your current income and payments.  If you are vulnerable to any increase in rates of variable rate mortgages or lines of credit, meaning... can you afford to gamble on hoping rates won't go up any further?  If you are the least bit concerned you should review your whole financial situation now, before March 18, 2011.  An opportunity like this won't be around for a long time.

thanks,
Bob Quinlan, Independent Mortgage Broker

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate blog