| The Province of British Columbia is located in | | | | resorts, whilst Whistler Blackcomb is one of the |
| Western Canada, it borders with the Yukon and | | | | premier resorts in North America and due to host |
| Northwest Territories to the North, Alberta to the | | | | the 2010 Winter Olympics. Already projects are |
| East and the U.S. states of Montana, Idaho and | | | | beginning to improve the infrastructure and there |
| Washington to the south. The Pacific Ocean | | | | are plans to build a two lane highway linking |
| coastline to the west is the only part of Canada | | | | Vancouver and Whistler Mountain Resort.As with |
| on the Pacific Ocean and is home to Vancouver | | | | all the Provinces; Education, Healthcare, Social |
| IslandWith an area of 944,735 square kilometers; | | | | Assistance Benefits and Driver Licensing are all |
| it is Canada's third largest province in area and | | | | managed by the Provincial Government of British |
| population (4,162,535). More than half of the | | | | Columbia. The Provincial regulators for qualification |
| population lives in the south western corner of the | | | | transfer can be found in our "Jobsearch" pages. |
| Province. Most of British Columbia is in Pacific | | | | One extremely important responsibility of the |
| Mountain time which is Greenwich meantime | | | | Provincial Government is to administer the |
| (GMT)-8 hours. Daylight saving is in effect from | | | | Employment Standards which include your rights |
| April to October making it GMT -9 hours. Being | | | | (maternity, minimum wage etc.) and responsibilities |
| home to the fantastic scenery of the many | | | | as an employee in BC. It is imperative that you |
| Provincial and National Parks, British Columbia is a | | | | understand these before you start work.The |
| magnet to outdoor enthusiasts and tourists alike. | | | | liquor laws, as with all of Canada, are very strict in |
| The hundreds of Provincial parks are fantastic | | | | the Province. The legal drinking age is 19 years |
| though completely out shadowed by the majestic | | | | and licensed establishments will ask for I.D. if |
| National parks including Yoho, Kootenay and | | | | someone looks under the age of 25 years. |
| Glacier National Parks.The Province has many | | | | Drinking is not permitted in a public place unless it |
| different landscapes including beautiful beaches, | | | | has been specially approved. Liquor in a moving |
| immense lakes and rivers, mountains and even a | | | | vehicle must be sealed and not accessible to |
| desert area. British Columbia is also home to | | | | anyone in that vehicle.Apart from the Provincial |
| some of Canada's wettest and driest areas. The | | | | Income Tax British Columbia has two main taxes, |
| climate varies greatly from one area to the next, | | | | firstly the GST (Goods & Services Taxes) this is |
| but generally the coastal area of British Columbia | | | | currently at 7% and is applied to most goods and |
| tends to be the mildest with cool and wet | | | | services sold in Canada. Secondly, PST (Social |
| winters, the summers are warmer but the area is | | | | Services Tax - Provincial) this is currently at 7.5% |
| still prone to precipitation. The interior has cold | | | | and is applied to merchandise that is bought or |
| winters with a lot of snow and dry hot summers. | | | | leased in B.C. There are some exemptions to |
| All these factors combine to create fantastic | | | | PST; these include all food items for human |
| sports and Recreational Opportunities that will | | | | consumption, clothing and footwear for children |
| keep all the family busy!The City of Vancouver | | | | less than 15 years of age and medications.Also, |
| lies in the southwestern corner of British Columbia | | | | there is an environmental tax which is charged to |
| and as Canada's third largest city dominates as | | | | tires and lead acid batteries bought in the |
| the population centre of the Province. The | | | | province. Hotel rooms are subject to taxation |
| Provincial capital is Victoria, a much smaller city on | | | | charged at between 8 - 10% depending on the |
| the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Vancouver | | | | location. Be aware that most prices are |
| is one of the most amazing cities in the world | | | | advertised without any taxes; these are normally |
| with great beaches, skiing, hiking, sailing and most | | | | added on at the point of payment and can cause |
| other activities catered for. The city has an | | | | confusion if you are not expecting it!The main |
| outstanding and vibrant night life with world class | | | | industries of B.C are Forestry, Fishing, Agriculture, |
| restaurants and clubs. Victoria is a more sedate | | | | Mining, Tourism and Manufacturing. After several |
| affair, though it too offers an exciting nightlife. | | | | years in recession, the British Columbia economy |
| Being the Provincial capital means that there is | | | | is now recovering. The forestry industry has |
| some history in Victoria with the Parliament | | | | received a massive boost after a lengthy dispute |
| building overlooking the harbour area.There are | | | | with the USA over lumber import duties imposed |
| several other cities of a fair size - Kamloops, | | | | by the US on Canadian wood is drawing closer to |
| Kelowna, Revelstoke, Vernon and Prince George | | | | settlement. The world free trade organisation has |
| being the largest. The northern cities tend to be | | | | ruled in Canada's favour and it looks likely that the |
| supported by logging and fishing industries while | | | | US will have to repay the Billions of dollars in illegal |
| the southern areas generate excellent income | | | | duties already collected and allow the free trade |
| form the tourist industry. The Okanagan area is a | | | | to resume. This enables the Province to claim one |
| vacation centre for many Canadians with hot | | | | of North America's most competitive Business |
| summers spent by warm lakes. The winters bring | | | | Climates and has tremendous economic |
| snow to the Fernie, Panarama and Kimberley ski | | | | opportunities existing throughout the province. |