At the end of each year, Business in Vancouver readers are treated to thoughtful commentary from pundits, journalists and elected officials offering their opinions and predictions for the new year.
In my view, the opinions that matter most are those of British Columbians. From the small-business owner planning for growth to the working family that has a bit more money left over at the end of the month, it’s my hope that all of us can look back on 2019 as the year in which life in B.C. got a bit easier.
B.C.’s economy continued to lead the country in 2019. Our province has the lowest unemployment rate, and the country’s second-highest hourly wage growth over the past year.
Our robust capital plan continues to move ahead, creating jobs and opportunity for people as we build roads, homes and hospitals. All the while, we’ve maintained balanced budgets and B.C.’s triple-A credit rating.
Yet there is uncertainty.
There is concern about a global economic slowdown and declining commodity prices for B.C.’s natural resources like lumber and coal. The need for urgent action on climate has intensified, as sea temperatures rise and extreme weather events grow in scale and frequency.
On the home front, we continue to face big challenges like the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia and the housing crisis. And B.C. businesses remain concerned about the skilled labour shortage and the cost of doing business.
As we grapple with these challenges, there are some among us who choose to focus on disparity. They want to divide us, pitting people and communities – even provinces – against one other. That’s not who we are as British Columbians, and it’s not who we are as Canadians.
If we’re going to find solutions to the challenges we face, we have to stay focused on what unites us. Working together is the best way to fix the problems and make sure people come out ahead. That’s what our government is known for, and our actions in 2019 were no exception.
B.C. continued to lead North America on climate action in 2019. One year after the CleanBC climate plan was introduced, we’re making cleaner options more affordable and accessible, and we’re building a low-carbon economy with jobs and opportunities for British Columbians. We signed a memorandum of understanding with the Business Council of British Columbia that commits us to work together to address energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries, because every sector has a part to play in reducing climate pollution and meeting emissions targets.
Also in 2019, B.C. worked with business and industry to promote growth and innovation in natural resources. We made the mining flow-through share tax credit and the B.C. mining exploration tax credit permanent to support continued growth in mining and mineral exploration. We are doing everything we can to support workers and forest-dependent communities as we go through a significant transformation in our forest sector. Our government is doing what it can to get the most value out of every log, expand our manufacturing sector, promote innovative wood products in markets around the world and create good jobs in local communities. And on oil and gas, our work with LNG Canada shows that B.C. can have a future that balances economic opportunity and job creation with forward-looking action that meets our climate action targets.
The year 2019 also saw important progress on the development of an innovation corridor for the Fraser Valley. A second downtown in Surrey will complement Vancouver’s booming tech sector and offer more good jobs, shorter commute times and a better standard of living for everyone. We’re looking forward to working with community leaders and stakeholders to bring the innovation corridor to life.
And in 2019 B.C. became the first province in Canada to pass legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The legislation will create a path forward on reconciliation that helps build stronger communities, stable jobs and economic growth, while protecting the environment. It took decades of hard work by Indigenous leaders to get us here. Our government is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, to make sure our future is better than our past.
In my travels across B.C. I am humbled to meet British Columbians of all walks of life, from newcomers who are putting down roots in B.C., to the third-generation business owner whose operations are the anchor of a small community. Life isn’t always easy. But there is hope for a better future.
I share that sense of hope and optimism.
Despite global economic headwinds and challenges here at home, we have a lot going for us in B.C. It’s because of our people. If we continue to invest in them and create opportunities for their creativity and innovative solutions, 2020 will be our best year yet. •
John Horgan is premier of British Columbia.
