Premier Christy Clark unveiled final details of her long awaited jobs initiativeSeptember 22.
The plan’s three key pillars are:
- expand markets for B.C. products and services, particularly in Asia;
- strengthen infrastructure to get goods and services to market; and
- work with communities and employers to enable job creation.
New spending in the “Canada Starts Here” plan includes:
- $50 million to improve the provincially owned corridor that connects Deltaport to Canada's rail transportation network;
- $24 million to reduce the time it takes for business owners who want to invest in natural resource development to get decisions on approvals and permits; and
- $5 million in improvements to ensure commercial carriers and travelers have information to make better border-route planning decisions.
Within 60 days, Clark will open a BC Jobs and Investment Board made up of labour leaders, business leaders and others to help identify issues and processes that are potentially limiting development.
The Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC) was quick to praise the plan.
“We are in the midst of globally challenging times, but given our assets, comparative fiscal strength, skilled workforce and solid infrastructure, it is clear that B.C. and Canada can excel with a focused and practical economic strategy such as ‘Canada Starts Here,’” said BCBC’s CEO Greg D'Avignon in a release.
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom