Policy Search

The recent changes to Canada’s Express Entry system, specifically the removal of additional points for job offers supported by Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), are aimed at reducing fraudulent practices within the immigration system. While well-intentioned, this policy shift has raised significant concerns about its broader implications for skilled workers, employers, and the overall...

With a growing population and increasing housing demand in Metro Vancouver and other cities around the province, industrial lands have been significantly decreased through both absorption and rezoning over the last 30 years. With forecasts that the Metro Vancouver region, for example, will run out of industrial space within the decade, the provincial government needs to make preserving industrial...

While BC’s Labour Relations Code plays a crucial role in ensuring fairness and stability in workplaces, it must also support economic growth, competitiveness, and avoid undermining investment confidence. To remain effective, it should balance the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees, without unduly favouring one side or imposing burdens that hinder business viability...

Small businesses provide employment and services that are the lifeblood of communities across BC. However, cost pressures continue to challenge viable businesses. Electrical energy costs are often a significant cost component of the operations of small businesses. The BC Government, BC Utility Commission and BC Hydro all have a role in moving rates for the SGS ratepayers and the whole commercial...

In January 2025, Premier David Eby announced the first two secure psychiatric care facilities would open by May at the Surrey Pretrial Centre and the Alouette Correctional Facility in Maple Ridge. Regional forensic psychiatric care facilities are needed around the province to provide this level of care in communities outside of Metro Vancouver, particularly those in the more rural and remote...

The lack of compensation for road rescue services in rural areas creates an unsustainable burden on volunteer organizations, jeopardizing response times and the efficacy of emergency services. Investing in these services is crucial for ensuring community resilience during emergencies. As communities face increasing demands without adequate support or funding, it becomes crucial to find a way to...

Unpredictable trade policies, shifting international alliances, and the rise of protectionist measures—particularly from key trading partners such as the United States—pose significant and ongoing challenges to Canadian industries. For BC businesses, whose success is deeply tied to global trade, the uncertainty surrounding tariffs and market access discourages investment and undermines economic...

Global tariff disputes, the worldwide pandemic, climate change and major weather events such as those experienced across British Columbia in the summer and fall of 2021 have turned a spotlight on supply chain vulnerabilities and the devastating economic impacts of temporary closures of critical transportation routes to the provincial and national economy. There is a need to implement solutions for...

The Province of BC has announced measures to streamline permitting of certain major projects deemed urgent. The regulatory process lacks fulsome consideration of the economic benefits of these projects, including their contributions to economic reconciliation with First Nations, GDP, job creation (particularly but not limited to rural regions of the Province), and government revenues. As a result...

The unexpected bankruptcy of Small Business BC (SBBC) in December 2024 has left a significant gap in the support system for small businesses across the province. Small businesses account for 98% of all businesses in British Columbia, employing over 1.1 million people. Without tailored and robust support, this vital sector faces heightened challenges, which could impact the province's overall...