TODAY IN HISTORY: Queen declared a usurper

In 616 (traditional date): Ethelbert, first Christian English king and instigator of the first written code of British law, died.

In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England, declaring her a usurper because she embraced Protestantism.

In 1836, inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver — the first revolving barrel multi-shot firearm.

In 1880, the New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton was destroyed by fire.

In 1884, a company that would later become Inco began mining operations at Sudbury, Ont. Today, Inco is part of Vale.

In 1908, St. Boniface, Man., was incorporated as a city.

In 1928, W3XK Washington became North America's first licensed television station.

In 1940, the New York Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 at Madison Square Garden in the world's first televised hockey game. It was aired on Westinghouse station W2XBS.

In 1945, CBC's International Service launched.

In 1948, Communists seized power Czechoslovakia.

In 1964, Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali, became world heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

In 1966, the 13-km, $200-million east-west Toronto subway was opened by Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

In 1968, Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson accused Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau of displaying a dangerous ignorance of Quebec and the nature of federalism.

In 1972, Ontario Hydro's nuclear power generating plant was officially opened.

In 1986, after 20 years of rule, Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos resigned. The 68-yearold Marcos and his family fled to Guam. Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated Benigno Aquino, succeeded Marcos.

In 1991, the Warsaw Pact, created by the Soviet Union and other eastern European countries as a counter-force to the North Atlantic Treaty

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Organization, voted to dissolve on March 31.

In 1993, The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 43 that gay and lesbian couples aren't families under the Canadian Human Rights Act. However, Justice Antonio Lamer wrote that he might have voted differently if the act had prohibited discrimination against homosexuals. Justice Minister Kim Campbell introduced amendments to do just that in December.

In 2000, telecommunications giant BCE bought broadcaster CTV for $2.3 billion.

In 2005, Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel gave up his fight to stay in Canada. The 65-year-old white supremacist was put on a plane in March to return to Germany where he faced charges for spreading hate there. He would spend five years in a German prison before being freed in 2010.

In 2007, “The Departed” was named Best Picture at the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Martin Scorsese won his first Oscar for directing it. Forest Whitaker won Best Actor for “The Last King of Scotland” and the Best Actress award went to Helen Mirren for “The Queen.”

We all know about or have personally felt the effects of the forestry industry’s downturn over the last few years.

In the past 12 months, COVID-19 has thrown in additional barriers to the sector’s recovery. This has affected thousands of workers who are trying to live a good life and make a decent living, just like I was when I worked in a mill 40 years ago.

It is because of my deep forestry roots that I want to see the industry succeed and ensure its workers are supported.

Eighteen months ago, our government launched a three-year, $69-million effort to help displaced forestry workers cope with mill closures, curtailments and an overall downturn in the industry. About $52 million of this funds two programs to support displaced forest workers and their families in B.C. communities — the Bridging to Retirement program and Job Placement Coordination offices. These programs work together to create openings for younger workers.

The Bridging to Retirement program allows older workers to retire early and remain in their communities with their families — creating openings for workers who are in the early phases of their careers. Job Placement Co-ordination offices help displaced forestry workers with customized training and job searches.

Demand has been high for the retirement bridging funding. In over 100 communities in B.C.’s Interior and coastal regions, this program has helped 700 people retire early through $30 million in benefits and created 400 forestry jobs for younger workers in communities since the program started in 2019.

This funding is helping where it’s needed — in communities with the most displaced workers. In Quesnel, 95 mill workers benefited from $4.1 million, the highest for any community. In Prince George, 51 millworkers have benefited from nearly $2.4 million, while communities like Williams Lake, Fort St. James, Clearwater, Mackenzie and Kelowna have each had over $1 million flow to retiring workers.

The Job Placement Co-ordination offices

BAINS Minister of Labour

— in 100 Mile House, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Mackenzie and Clearwater — have connected with over 5,500 people, and more than 800 displaced workers have been linked to training opportunities that align with their interests and abilities.

The program has helped displaced millworkers find employment, such as building log homes, working on major projects like LNG Canada, Trans-Mountain Pipeline and Site C, and starting their own businesses.

The people affected by these economic hardships and the communities they live in need and deserve our help.

From the beginning of the pandemic, our government has been there to support the people most in need, and we’ve taken action to help hard-hit industries while we build a strong economic recovery. Many programs are in place to assist people who depend on the forestry sector for their livelihood, not just in my ministry, but across government.

Premier John Horgan signalled his intent to support forestry with the appointment of Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell as Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development under Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Russell’s mandate includes establishing offices to support workers in economically challenged resource communities.

This work is part of the government’s continued efforts to revitalize the industry and support these workers and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.