B.C.’s mining sector has recovered from the 1990s when it was almost completely extinguished. Mining exploration is up 1,300 per cent from 2001, and 10 new metal and coal mines have opened or re-opened – a record that could grow with the construction of the Highway 37 transmission line and plans underway to construct a northeast transmission line. Investments have been made in geoscience research to provide better data for future exploration. The oil and gas sector is B.C.’s single largest revenue source, bringing in $2.66 billion in land rights sales in 2008 alone. The B.C. Liberal government has put royalty programs in place to make summer oil and gas drilling feasible and create more year-round employment. In both fields, taxes have been reduced and tax credit programs have been introduced to spur further industry investment. Programs that have supported forest workers impacted by the global economic downturn are being extended to workers in mining and other resource sectors. Challenges and Opportunities:
Even in a low-carbon world British Columbians will continue to need oil and gas. It’s used to make medicines, plastics, hybrid vehicles and many other daily necessities. Offshore oil and gas reserves are projected to be sizeable and could create jobs and economic opportunity on the Coast, but the potential and the possible environmental challenges can’t be confirmed without further study.
Discussion:
Should offshore oil and gas exploration proceed if the science says it can be done in a safe, environmentally sound manner? Should government look at continuing the innovative royalty programs to encourage oil and gas investment? What other actions can be taken in the mining sector to enhance its competitiveness and continue to grow jobs in rural B.C.?
B.C.'s small business growth leads Canada
B.C. government eliminated 164,000 pieces of red tape
B.C. Liberals lowered small business taxes
Province cut corporate taxes by one-third
Record funding for K-12 education
Class size limits enshrined in law
B.C. parents' right to volunteer guaranteed in law
Province adds more front-line staff for children at risk
B.C. Liberal government provided more funding for community infrastructure
B.C. government grants $285 M for regional economic trusts
All traffic fine revenue returned to cities annually
Provincial income tax eliminated for a quarter million low-income people
Number of child care spaces receiving operating funding almost double
B.C. Liberal government cut income taxes to lowest in Canada
Agreements providing social and economic opportunities for First Nations
B.C. Liberal Government signed modern treaties with six First Nations
Aboriginal unemployment a third lower than in 2001
B.C. Liberal government increased funding for health care by 60 per cent
B.C.'s first new regional hospital in 30 years built in Abbotsford
New hospitals under construction in five communities
Twice as many doctors being trained in B.C. than in 1990s
North America's most progressive climate action plan, praised by climatologists and economists
Carbon tax funds tax cuts and impact equal to removing 800,000 vehicles
Over 12,000 new and replacement seniors' care beds and units
Wait time for residential care down to 90 days from one year
B.C. government providing more home support care hours than ever before
B.C. Liberal government created seven new universities
