The Future is Bright in British Columbia

Credit: Castlegar aerial photo | Lee Orr

A Letter from the Premier of British Columbia

We are leading the way with a fast, strong economic recovery as the world emerges from a global pandemic. British Columbia is known around the world as a wonderful place to live, visit, and do business.

We have a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. We have a highly skilled workforce, a booming population, and a provincial credit rating reflecting a strong balance sheet, as well as the depth and diversity of our economy. All of which makes British Columbia a terrific place to invest.

Our province’s landscape is famous for its beauty. It is also a source of jobs, community, and incredible economy opportunity. The natural resources sector has been—and always will be—foundational to the economy of our province. Our mining sector is booming with seven new mines proposed for the province in the coming years. That represents an investment of $4 billion. Some of those mines provide the crucial raw materials necessary for the transition to a low-carbon future. People also look to B.C. because we have high sustainability standards for resource extraction.

We are the first jurisdiction in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through full partnership with First Nations, we are on a path to greater certainty for major natural resource projects. This has resulted in major new projects getting the green light. In March alone, the new Artemis gold mine in northern BC was approved to begin construction. It will be the first new mine in almost a decade. Cedar LNG, whose majority owner is the Haisla Nation, received approval for its low-emission, $2.4 billion project near Kitimat. This is the largest Indigenous owned infrastructure project in North America.

We are also a global leader in cleantech and advanced manufacturing. We are uniquely positioned to thrive in the low-carbon economy of the future. As a major source of clean hydroelectric power, B.C. is already a cleanenergy superpower and future demand will require us to produce even more. British Columbia is an unbeatable place for any investor with a premium on high environmental standards and strong democratic institutions.

We know our high standards in B.C. are a competitive advantage in luring and keeping investment. We are expanding our economy responsibly and sustainably, while creating good jobs and providing the services people need. We are also investing in training, including a new $136-million trades and technology centre in Burnaby, as well as a new university in Langford.

Our affordable childcare program is freeing more people to join the workforce. And we are streamlining our permitting processes so they will not be an unnecessary barrier to growth. B.C. is on the move.

I could not be more excited about our future.

David Eby
Premier of British Columbia

Browse Invest in BC:

British Columbia: The Sustainable Advantage

First Nations Mean Business

The Clean Energy Advantage

Lower Mainland-Southwest: Bullish Outlook

Vancouver Island/Coast: Fairer Shores