BILL Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister responsible for Core Review, provided a progress update on Tuesday announcing the first decisions of the Core Review process to ensure the best possible use of government resources and respect for the interests of taxpayers.

The Pacific Carbon Trust (Trust) was established in 2008 to help develop a carbon-offset business sector. With that goal accomplished, the Trust will be transitioned into government to achieve approximately $5.6 million in savings annually by 2015 / 16, while maintaining government’s commitment to climate leadership and a carbon-neutral public sector. The current Carbon Neutral Capital Program for K-12 has been successful and will be reviewed to see if there are affordable options for similar savings to be realized from capital investments in the health and post-secondary sectors.

The Provincial Capital Commission will be dissolved, as it was determined government can do the commission’s work directly, resulting in efficiencies and reducing administrative costs, saving taxpayers approximately $1 million annually. The commission’s Community Outreach Program will be maintained within government and all of its cultural and school outreach activities will continue.

These combined savings represent the first steps towards determining what government’s core responsibilities are and what programs can be delivered more effectively and at less cost to taxpayers.