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B.C. Premier goes all out to promote expedited resource development to deal with province's economic problems, pays scant attention to the environmental crisis
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Sid Shniad
May 15, 2025, 6:01:11 PMMay 15
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https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/david-eby-bc-is-ready-to-be-canadas-economic-engine
Vancouver Sun May 14, 2025
B.C. is ready to be Canada’s economic engine
Premier David Eby: Duplication and bureaucracy in the approval process can mean missed opportunities and higher costs. This month, we introduced new laws to fix that.
By David Eby
B.C. Premier David Eby. Photo by Government of British Columbia
British Columbians have always stepped up when it mattered most.
We built the dams that power our homes, carved highways through mountains and, during war, produced nearly half of the cargo ships that supplied the front lines.
Now, it’s our time to build again — and we don’t have a moment to waste.
With external threats to our sovereignty and prosperity, we must strengthen our economy and create good jobs by delivering the infrastructure people need.
Our communities have outgrown the roads, schools and hospitals our grandparents built. We need to act.
We are currently executing the largest infrastructure build-out in B.C.’s history, constructing a record number of schools, hospitals and major transportation projects. This work will continue.
At the same time, new private-sector projects are moving forward, bringing benefits to communities across the province.
Yet despite progress in reducing permitting times, many projects still face costly, unnecessary delays. Duplication and bureaucracy in the approval process can mean missed opportunities, and higher costs — at a time when we can least afford it.
This month, we introduced new laws to fix that. These bills will give us tools to accelerate priority projects — projects like transmission lines that power economic growth.
This builds on steps we’ve already taken to remove barriers to homebuilding and speed up natural resource approvals.
Faster approvals mean:
• Kids learning in modern classrooms, and students moving on to affordable campus housing — sooner.
• New and upgraded hospitals, and stronger communities that are better prepared for natural disasters.
• Family supporting jobs and skilled trades training as we get shovels in the ground — faster.
We can do all this without compromising our environmental standards or our commitment to reconciliation. In fact, these goals go hand-in-hand.
These new tools will be used responsibly — not to bypass necessary consultation or rush controversial projects like LNG terminals or oil-and-gas pipelines.
Instead, they will help us deliver the clean energy infrastructure families need and unlock B.C.’s mineral wealth — critical for the low-carbon economy.
This is a moral and practical imperative.
We will not leave First Nations on the sidelines. That only creates delay and uncertainty. Moving forward means moving together — in partnership.
Already, eight of the nine clean energy projects we fast-tracked have majority First Nations ownership. Together, they will power more than 500,000 homes.
A rising tide will lift all boats. The prosperity we build will be shared across the province.
Yes, we are living through uncertain times. But there’s no better place to face these challenges than B.C.
We have everything we need to succeed — right here.
As a gateway to fast-growing Asian markets, and with abundant natural resources, B.C. is ready to be Canada’s economic engine.
If we work together to harness these advantages, we can build a better future for our greatest asset: the skilled, resilient, hardworking people who call this place home.
When faced with challenges, British Columbians don’t retreat — we respond.
Let’s rise to this moment. Let’s lead.
Let’s get the job done. Let’s build.
David Eby is the premier of B.C.
Vancouver Sun May 14, 2025
B.C. is ready to be Canada’s economic engine
Premier David Eby: Duplication and bureaucracy in the approval process can mean missed opportunities and higher costs. This month, we introduced new laws to fix that.
By David Eby
B.C. Premier David Eby. Photo by Government of British Columbia
British Columbians have always stepped up when it mattered most.
We built the dams that power our homes, carved highways through mountains and, during war, produced nearly half of the cargo ships that supplied the front lines.
Now, it’s our time to build again — and we don’t have a moment to waste.
With external threats to our sovereignty and prosperity, we must strengthen our economy and create good jobs by delivering the infrastructure people need.
Our communities have outgrown the roads, schools and hospitals our grandparents built. We need to act.
We are currently executing the largest infrastructure build-out in B.C.’s history, constructing a record number of schools, hospitals and major transportation projects. This work will continue.
At the same time, new private-sector projects are moving forward, bringing benefits to communities across the province.
Yet despite progress in reducing permitting times, many projects still face costly, unnecessary delays. Duplication and bureaucracy in the approval process can mean missed opportunities, and higher costs — at a time when we can least afford it.
This month, we introduced new laws to fix that. These bills will give us tools to accelerate priority projects — projects like transmission lines that power economic growth.
This builds on steps we’ve already taken to remove barriers to homebuilding and speed up natural resource approvals.
Faster approvals mean:
• Kids learning in modern classrooms, and students moving on to affordable campus housing — sooner.
• New and upgraded hospitals, and stronger communities that are better prepared for natural disasters.
• Family supporting jobs and skilled trades training as we get shovels in the ground — faster.
We can do all this without compromising our environmental standards or our commitment to reconciliation. In fact, these goals go hand-in-hand.
These new tools will be used responsibly — not to bypass necessary consultation or rush controversial projects like LNG terminals or oil-and-gas pipelines.
Instead, they will help us deliver the clean energy infrastructure families need and unlock B.C.’s mineral wealth — critical for the low-carbon economy.
This is a moral and practical imperative.
We will not leave First Nations on the sidelines. That only creates delay and uncertainty. Moving forward means moving together — in partnership.
Already, eight of the nine clean energy projects we fast-tracked have majority First Nations ownership. Together, they will power more than 500,000 homes.
A rising tide will lift all boats. The prosperity we build will be shared across the province.
Yes, we are living through uncertain times. But there’s no better place to face these challenges than B.C.
We have everything we need to succeed — right here.
As a gateway to fast-growing Asian markets, and with abundant natural resources, B.C. is ready to be Canada’s economic engine.
If we work together to harness these advantages, we can build a better future for our greatest asset: the skilled, resilient, hardworking people who call this place home.
When faced with challenges, British Columbians don’t retreat — we respond.
Let’s rise to this moment. Let’s lead.
Let’s get the job done. Let’s build.
David Eby is the premier of B.C.
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