By Korie Marshall
The first decisions of the provincial Core Review have been announced: the Pacific Carbon Trust, a crown corporation, will be transitioned to government, and the Provincial Capitol Commission will be dissolved.
Pacific Carbon Trust was established in 2008 to help develop a carbon-offset business sector. A statement from Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister responsible for Core Review, says with that goal accomplished, the Trust will be transitioned into government to achieve approximately $5.6 million in saving annually by 2015/16, while maintaining government’s commitment to climate leadership and a carbon-neutral public sector.
According to its website, the Provincial Capitol Commission is a self-sustaining Crown agency that derives its operating revenues through stewardship of numerous properties and heritage buildings, and its mandate is to connect British Columbians with the capital through a variety of outreach programs. The statement from Minister Bennett says the Provincial Capitol Commission will be dissolved because it was determined government can do the commission’s work directly, reducing administrative costs and saving taxpayers approximately $1 million annually. The statement says the commission’s Community Outreach Program will be maintained within government and all of its cultural and school outreach activities will continue including the Capital for Kids youth travel subsidies and BC Youth Parliament.
The last review took place in 2001-02, and the terms of reference for the current Core Review were announced in July 2013. The review is intended to ensure the best possible use of government resources, and its scope includes all ministries and their agencies, boards, commissions, all Crown agencies and the SUCH sector (School Districts, Universities, Colleges and Health Organizaions). The current review is expected to be complete by the end of 2014.
A spokesperson from the Ministry Responsible for Core Review confirmed to the Goat that Columbia Basin Trust, also a crown corporation, will not be reviewed by the Core Review.
