xʷməθkʷəy̓əm [MUSQUEAM], Sḵwx̱wú7mesh [SQUAMISH], and Sel̓íl̓witulh [TSLEIL-WAUTUTH] TERRITORY / VANCOUVER, B.C. — Leader of the BC Greens and candidate for Saanich North and the Islands was joined by BC Greens candidates from across the Greater Vancouver area to announce the BC Greens’ Economic Vision, a plan to build B.C.’s economy on clean, affordable power, make more of what we use here, and keep more of the wealth in the communities that create it.
“B.C. has everything it needs to build a strong, sovereign, thriving economy, yet too often, economic decisions are made to benefit multinational corporations and their shareholders, not British Columbians,” said Lowan. “Our economic vision puts B.C., its communities, and its workers first.”
“British Columbians should be able to work hard and build a stable, secure life in their province. Communities should have a real say in the economic decisions that shape their future. Workers should share in the prosperity they help create. And when we make decisions about our land, resources, and public money, we should be thinking about what we are leaving behind for the next generation and what stays in the community where it was generated”
The Economic Vision covers four categories: Strong Regional Economies, Abundant, Affordable, and Reliable Clean Power, Make and Retain More Value in BC, and A Fair Economy that Shares Prosperity.”
“I hear every day on the campaign trail just how difficult it is to start and maintain a small business in British Columbia. While other parties are focused on fast tracking projects for foreign resource corporations, the BC Greens are focused on building strong local economies, where wealth stays in the community, local businesses can grow, and every region has the power to shape its own future.”
The BC Greens will make government easier for small businesses to navigate, through a single front door for approvals, simpler forms, and clearer timelines. They will introduce province-wide commercial rent protections and give municipalities new tools to address long-term commercial vacancies.
“B.C. has the highest youth unemployment rates in Canada. If we want this province to work for the next generation, we need to build stronger regional economies, create deeper local supply chains, and ensure working people are seeing the value they create retained in our province. Building green industrial policy will create good union jobs and give our province the lasting advantage we need for the next century.”
The BC Greens will use public purchasing, infrastructure, financing, workforce training, and research to help B.C. businesses scale and build stronger domestic supply chains. They will use public procurement and strategic investment to help promising B.C. technology and clean-technology companies grow here, with public returns when taxpayer-backed investments succeed. They will restore strategic freight and passenger rail corridors to better connect businesses, workers and communities across the province.
Lowan concluded by stating: “Our politics must begin and end with the purpose of materially improving British Columbians’ lives. We are deeply proud to put forward our Economic Vision to offer this province the chance to believe in better.”
This Economic Vision sets out where the BC Greens believe BC can make a major shift over the coming decade. It sits alongside the BC Greens’ commitments on housing, health care, education, poverty reduction, climate action and the other foundations of a good life in British Columbia.
Please find our Economic Vision executive summary and our full Economic Vision in the “Our Plan” section of our website.
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