Improving relations with the port and pushing for green and creative sector jobs have topped Mayor Gregor Robertson’s priority list over the past three years, he recently told Business in Vancouver.
“I would say it’s a responsibility of all the mayors to be championing the jobs and companies we have here – and we also need to focus on where the big gains are and the real opportunities,” he said. “So I’ve put some real focus on the creative industries, green jobs and the port in particular.”
Robertson said his efforts have significantly improved the City of Vancouver’s relationship with Port Metro Vancouver.
“We’ve been real champions for the port and have made significant commitments to improve movement of goods from the Vancouver piece of Port Metro Vancouver and have a much stronger relationship than years ago,” he said.
“The port and the City of Vancouver had a difficult relationship up until three years ago that was, I would say, not business-friendly. We’ve changed that significantly and we’re focused on supporting the port-related industries.”
As to why Robertson hasn’t championed Vancouver’s resource industries, he said: “The resource industries are obviously based here because the resources are here and the historical connection. The federal and provincial governments have jurisdiction over a lot of those industries and their tenures and permits.”
He contended that the green and creative industries are more mobile and thus require a more specific focus.
“They’re knowledge-based industries that could choose to go anywhere and as a city, we need to create a very attractive environment for the talent in those industries to want to be here,” he said. “And they’re emerging industries that are growing faster than any other around the world now.”
See next week’s edition of BIV for in-depth interviews with Robertson and NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton about key Vancouver business issues.
Jenny Wagler
@JennyWagler_BIV