 Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Adrian Dix, I'm BC's Minister of Health. I want to acknowledge that we're on the territory of the Laquangan-speaking people of the Songhees and the Esquimalt First Nations. Today's announcement is significant for public health care and for innovation in BC. And I wanted to announce and welcome today's speakers, Rabbi Callan, the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. And he'll be joined by Dr. Bev Holmes, the CEO of Michael Smith Health Research BC. Didn't say foundation. Got that down. I like that. Michael Smith Health Research BC and Dr. Pascal Spothelfer, the CEO of Genome BC. Investing in high quality research ensures a robust health care system and protects the health of British Columbians and that, as we all are exceptionally important, it also creates economic activity and opportunity in BC's diverse and innovative economy. Today's speaker knows all about that. I'd like to invite Minister Rabbi Callan to the stage to make today's announcement. Good afternoon. Let me start off by acknowledging that we are speaking today on the traditional territory of the Laquangan-speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. I want to begin by saying that my heart is with the people of Ukraine and the victims of war around the world. Our province stands united with those who respect international law. We have seen a lot of war and conflict over the past number of years, and this response, both globally and locally, has been unprecedented. I hope that this new precedent is how we respond to war and conflict moving forward in the years ahead. Today I'm proud to be here with Minister Adrian Dix, Dr. Bev Holmes and Dr. Pascal Spohelfer from Genome BC to talk about the stronger BC economic plan and the expansion of life sciences here in this province and what this will mean for British Columbians and people around the world. BC is the home to the fastest growing life science sector in all of Canada. With nearly 2,000 life sciences companies and 50 research centers, the last two years of the pandemic have highlighted the critical role of BC's life science sector in the lives of British Columbians. Virtually every COVID-19 vaccine that has reached late stage development in 2020 was developed or manufactured in BC. That's something that all of us should be very proud of. The life-saving impact of this work cannot be overstated. And now, as part of the budget and our stronger BC economic plan, we're putting forward more funding to expand life science research. This funding will mean more people that can benefit from the innovation and solutions coming from our growing life science sector. Today, I am pleased to announce an investment of $195 million in support of Genome BC and the Michael Smith Health Research BC over the next three years. Over $116 million will go to the Michael Smith Health Research BC. This funding will help close the skills gap and ensure that life science companies can retain and recruit world-class talent. Genome BC will be receiving $78 million in grant funding for research to help communities prepare for future pandemics but also to address the climate emergency. This funding will go towards advancing research in cancer genomics and address BC's priority in agriculture, clean tech and climate change. Whether it's developing new medications or rapid diagnostic tests or finding new sustainable ways to produce food, the heart of the life sciences is about making life better for British Columbians, which is exactly what our stronger BC economic plan is about. Our plan is about building an inclusive, sustainable and innovative economy that works for everyone. The plan sets out two big goals for BC to achieve over the long term, inclusive and clean growth. The life science sector helps us tackle the challenges of today but also for what's ahead. A key action in the stronger BC economic plan is creating a life sciences and bio manufacturing strategy to help further position BC as a world life sciences hub. Today with this announcement we are taking another step towards building that strategy. This work will help support hundreds of jobs across the sector and continue to provide exciting careers for people entering this field. We are going through some challenging times. We know that people are tired and exhausted, including all the researchers, the scientists and support workers in the life science sectors. I want to speak directly to those people listening today who have worked tirelessly to help develop new technologies, medical devices, treatments and vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You have helped save lives here in British Columbia, across Canada, in fact around the world. And you've made significant contributions towards how we will deal with pandemics into the future. We wouldn't be here without you and I want to say a big thank you. A strong, well-resourced life science and bio manufacturing hub is a priority for BC and it's a priority for our economic plan. Growth and expansion in this sector builds off the province's strengths, which is our people because an economy built for people is an economy that is built to succeed. So with that, I want to say thank you and I will pass it back to Minister Dix. Thank you, Minister Kellan. And created in 2000 in honor of BC's first Nobel laureate, Dr. Michael Smith. Michael Smith, Health Research BC has been a critical partner in supporting the growth and evolution of BC's vibrant health research system, providing grants to develop research talent and retain it, enabling action in the last year and two years on COVID-19 related challenges, building and supporting provincial research infrastructure, enhancing scientific excellence at the core of a successful economy, strengthening research and knowledge mobilization in BC's health care system. It plays an exceptional role, I think, and I think people who acknowledge it and understand its role in our system understand its profound value and how increasing that value and increasing our support for the Michael Smith Health Research BC will have, I think, an exceptional impact. I'd like to introduce the CEO, Dr. Beth Holmes of Michael Smith Health Research BC. Over to you, Beth. Good afternoon and thank you, Minister Dix. Today is an exciting day. BC is in a strong position to benefit from improved health and strengthen our economy, thanks to a provincial budget that includes significant support for life sciences. And I want to thank Minister Dix, Minister Kellan, and government for their continued support of Michael Smith Health Research BC and for their recognition that a healthy society and a healthy economy go hand in hand. The stronger BC economic plan says of all British Columbia's many advantages, our most important asset is people. And this really rings true for Michael Smith Health Research BC, which for 20 years has strengthened the province's life sciences sector by funding the people who, through their research, are improving the health of British Columbians, attracting significant investments into the province, creating jobs and training a next generation of health researchers. As Minister Kellan noted, COVID-19 has highlighted the important role of the life sciences in responding to a health crisis. And BC's research community has risen to the challenge, working alongside government and our public health and healthcare workforce to deliver the best evidence for decision-making and action. In fact, one of the silver linings of the pandemic was the rapid mobilization of research to understand and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic in our province and beyond. And of course this work continues. The funding announced today will enable health research BC to overcome delays to research caused by the pandemic, to build on the momentum of collaboration and creativity demanded by the pandemic, and to reinvigorate the province's efforts to attract, in health research. We'll do this through our funding programs, through platforms that support high quality research and the delivery of timely results, through advancing patient-oriented research across the province, and by working with our Indigenous colleagues, taking guidance on how best to foster Indigenous lab research. This support for health research BC will help build a diverse, equitable, inclusive and economic benefit to the province and delivers improved health and healthcare for British Columbians. Thank you. Thank you, Bev. And I wanted to turn to Genome BC, which is a leading organization developing world-class genome sciences that deliver social and economic benefits to British Columbia, to Canada and beyond. If you're a high school student in BC, also understand that Genome BC, while developing world-class science, has been deeply connected, particularly the students at all levels of BC, and we're really honored and continue to be honored by that work. So it's my pleasure to introduce Dr. Pascal Spothelfer, the CEO of Genome BC, to say a few words. Thank you, Minister Dix. Thank you, Minister Cullen, for the opportunity to provide brief remarks today. As mentioned, Genome BC is a not-for-profit technology, and it is a responsible application of genomic technologies to positively impact life every day. Genomics is the science of DNA, the study of all things living. In human health, genomics transforms cancer care, it allows diagnostics and treatments of rare diseases, and increasingly is used to treat infectious and chronic diseases. The COVID pandemic demonstrated the power of genomics through virus and variant tracking, testing, treatment and vaccine development. Beyond human health, genomics is a critical tool to combat climate change and ensure food security and safety. This funding announced today will allow Genome BC to continue supporting BC's vibrant life sciences sector and grow its global competitiveness. We can now do more, and we can do it faster. We do all this through the funding and promotion of research and innovation programs in BC and beyond. In addition, we advance commercialization and life sciences innovation, provide genomics and science education for K to 12 students, as mentioned by Minister Dix, and examine the responsible uptake of genomics through a social and economic lens. The investment from the provincial government enable us to support the global life sciences community to foster ensuring success of companies like Accelera, Acuidas, precision nano systems and others. Since our inception, Genome BC has leveraged over $300 million of provincial funding into $1.2 billion total investment to our province. This would not have been possible without the ongoing support and investment provided by the provincial government. For every dollar invested in Genome BC, we secure an additional $3 to further support research and innovation here at home. Thank you, Minister Dix and Minister Callum, for entrusting us with this funding. We will invest strategically to translate research, mobilize knowledge into impacts, and create public good for British Columbians. Thank you very much. Thank you, Pascal, and I'd now like to invite Minister Callum back to the podium to lead the question and answer session. Just a reminder to media on the line, if you have a question, please press star one to enter the queue. Everyone who does so will be allowed one question and one follow-up. I'm just going to give it a moment here to allow that to take place and it seems that all the questions were answered, we have no one in the queue. Thank you.