BC Chamber of Commerce Statement on Harvest Deferrals
In response to the BC Government’s announcement today that it intends to implement further forest harvesting deferrals in the province, Fiona Famulak, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement: “British Columbia’s forest industry is an important economic generator in communities – both rural and urban. These deferrals will have […]
Resource Industries – A Critical Ingredient in the Post-Pandemic Recipe 2021
Canada must not only maintain our competitive advantages, but also actively leverage and enhance them in the recovery effort. As Canada emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s essential that policy makers and the public understand the critical role that natural resource industries will play in rebuilding the provincial and federal economy in the short- and […]
Using Property Tax Reform to Support Agriculture Production 2021
The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) was designed to protect farmland; only 5% of BC is in the ALR, and only 1% of all of BC is prime farmland — much of which is close to urban centres. Non-farm residential and non-farm commercial uses are becoming more numerous and take advantage of tax breaks designed to […]
Natural Assets: Giving a Dollar Value to Forests, Green Spaces and Wetlands on Government Finance Reports 2021
Beyond the immediate health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, one of the most pressing threats facing Canada and the world is the degradation of nature, exacerbated by climate change. The emerging ecological disaster has been matched by an increasingly destabilized global economy and gaping inequality, fueling destructive populist politics that threaten established democracies. […]
Supporting a Globally Competitive LNG Industry in BC 2021
Fostering a new industry in BC brings significant new investment, opportunity, jobs and employment training. When BC is able to find new markets for our responsibly developed resources, it adds value to those resources and supports communities, businesses and provides new revenue for provincial government services such as health care, transportation, infrastructure and public safety […]
Realizing the Potential of Aquaculture in BC 2021
In the 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada articulated its plan for economic transformation post-COVID-19: addressing socio-economic gaps, building a stronger workforce, fighting climate change, and remaining committed to sustainable economic growth. The development of a blue economy strategy is a key component of this plan and will steer Canada’s ocean-based economy […]
Increase Focus on BC Government-Funded Training Programs for Fruit Growers to Increase Productivity, Get People Back to Work 2021
Even before the pandemic upset local agricultural economies and labour markets, there were limited options for education in the agricultural sector in BC. As various lockdowns took hold, education programs at all levels mostly ground to a halt. The government has a key role to play in not only starting up these programs in 2021 […]
Agricultural Land Commission Regulation Reform: Creating Principles-Based Farmland Use Policy 2021
A principles-based or merit-based regulatory approach to interpreting and enforcing the Agricultural Land Commission Act should be considered, such that arable farm land can continue to be protected for future generations while also providing an enabling environment for the development of agri-tourism businesses for current farm (business) owners. Other BC government entities, such as the […]
The Need For A Renewed Softwood Lumber Agreement (2020)
The ongoing Softwood Lumber dispute between Canada and the United States continues to be a trade irritant. While attention and resources have been focused on securing and implementing a renewed NAFTA, the recently signed Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – along with the removal of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – allows for an opportunity […]
Revitalizing the Fraser River – Unlocking Its True Potential (2020)
The Fraser River is one of the most important water systems in British Columbia. It is currently being underutilized due to the lack of development of port cities along the banks of the Fraser River. There are many cities across Canada that have successfully revitalized their waterfront areas along major waterway systems such as Toronto[1] […]