B.C. is in a better position to chart a long-term vision for the province according to the final report of the Emerging Economy Task Force.

The 14-member task force has made 25 recommendations to help B.C. navigate global trends and technological advancements over the next 10 to 25 years. The report will also be a valuable resource to help inform the province’s COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery.

The recommendations are presented within five key strategic priorities:

• embracing technology and innovation
• leveraging B.C.’s green economy
• building a highly skilled and adaptable workforce
• ensuring an effective enabling ecosystem
• demonstrating public sector leadership

“The Emerging Economy Task Force looked at the most current innovations, consumer behaviour and economic sectors to identify where B.C. is going in the future,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness. “This important work allows us to prepare for the opportunities that lie ahead – and this report can’t come at a better time. As we plan to build B.C. back from COVID-19, our economic recovery needs this forward thinking so we can create family-supporting jobs across British Columbia.”

The task force’s objective was to take a long-term view on how global trends will affect B.C.’s economy and to identify emerging opportunities across all sectors of the province.

The Emerging Economy Task Force is a central part of the B.C. government’s Confidence and Supply Agreement with the BC Green Party caucus.

“The Emerging Economy Task Force is clear that we must think long term if we are to position B.C.’s economy for success in these uncertain times,” said BC Green Party interim leader Adam Olsen. “As we build back from COVID-19, we must ensure that our recovery efforts help us build a sustainable and resilient economy that provides prosperity for all. This report is a valuable resource to guide that effort.”​

"An Emerging Economy Task Force was proposed as a means of addressing how technology, innovation and global trends are changing business and society," said Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. "To stay competitive, B.C. must anticipate the challenges and opportunities associated with change and how they impact the many sectors of our economy, from forestry and mining to tourism and clean technology.”

The task force, led by chair Kathy Kinloch, president of the BC Institute of Technology, was brought together in July 2018 to provide a better understanding of how global conditions and emerging technological advancements will shape the future of B.C.’s economy.

“The work of the Emerging Economy Task Force provided a venue to explore future economic opportunities and identify challenges for B.C.,” said Kinloch. “There is a need to shift how we approach our economy in multiple dimensions, and we have offered initial recommendations in five strategic priorities. Undoubtedly, this work will need to continue and is particularly accentuated in a post COVID-19 world. On behalf of the task force, I would like to thank the B.C. government for the opportunity to hear from industry, academic and community leaders, where it became clear that the commitment to a stronger economy is a shared goal.”

The final report is available at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/emerging-economy-task-force