Oct. 24, 2012
The Editor
The Tyee

In Tuesday's column, Bill Tieleman cited Napoleon Bonaparte's warning that China would wake and shake the world. This kind of outcry belongs to the 1800s, not 2012.

B.C. is not looking to Napoleon for advice on our province's economic growth strategy - and nor should we.

The fact is, China represents the world's most rapidly growing economy, and attracting investment from this country will lead to long-term jobs and greater economic prosperity for all British Columbians.

Doing business with China is not the same as ceding control of our economy, as Mr. Tieleman suggests. In addition, the contention that 2,000 temporary foreign workers from China will be operating up to four coal mines in B.C., taking long-term jobs from British Columbians, is false.

The mining company in question has approval to bring 200 temporary foreign workers - not the 2,000 Mr. Tieleman reported - to British Columbia to fill temporary, exploratory jobs (six to eight months) in a sector already experiencing a skills shortage. Assuming either mine becomes fully operational, it could create hundreds of long-term jobs, and qualified British Columbians will be first in line.

While many global markets are facing challenging times, China's economy continues to grow, and B.C.'s economy will grow with it. As long as the country remains one of B.C.'s most important social and economic partners, our province will continue to open its doors, not close them.

Pat Bell
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training