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Dec 31, 2020 4:27 PM -

Horgan says B.C. will focus on pandemic economic recovery, health reform in 2021

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B.C. Premier John Horgan wears a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 before being sworn in during a virtual swearing in ceremony in Victoria, Thursday, November 26, 2020. Premier John Horgan says he's glad he called a provincial election a year ahead of schedule and not just because the New Democrats were re-elected to a majority government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Premier John Horgan says economic recovery and health-care reforms are his New Democrat government's priorities for 2021.

He says the COVID-19 pandemic has tested him personally as it has the people of British Columbia.

Horgan says getting the economy moving next year will be the main goal of the budget in April, despite the recent forecast of a 13.6 billion dollar deficit.

There have been almost 900 deaths due to COVID-19 in the province and Horgan says the government is planning health-care reforms that focus on BC's elderly, the hardest hit by the pandemic.

The premier says his government will hire more care workers and implement measures to reduce the number of shared rooms in long-term care facilities.

Horgan says he will also join the efforts of other Canadian premiers to persuade the federal government to increase the health-care funding formula for the provinces.

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