Manufacturing Drives BC’s Economy

Manufacturing BC’s Future > Manufacturing Makes our Communities > Manufacturing Innovates for Tomorrow > More Skilled Jobs in BC

Downtown Toronto business district office buildings looking up at the canadian flag and blue sky

MANUFACTURING MEANS ECONOMIC GROWTH

BC’s manufacturers account for 6.9% of all economic activity, generates $53 billion in sales and comprises nearly 59% of exports. The sector makes world-class products right here. All of it proudly built right here by over 165,800 British Columbians.

The reality is that today we live in a global economy. It is a competitive landscape and all parts of the world are competing for BC’s market share. The worldwide recession created by the pandemic only adds to the competitive challenge. But, with the right conditions, the manufacturing sector can not only drive our economic recovery but it and help BC to thrive into the future.

WHAT CANADIANS THINK ABOUT MANUFACTURERS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY

  • 90% of Canadian recognize that manufacturing is a major driver of the Canadian economy.
  • 82% of Canadian think sustaining and stimulation the growth of the manufacturing sector is critical to the economy after learning the contribution of the sector.
  • 84% of Canadians think it’s important for the economy to manufacture more value-added products here at home instead of exporting raw material.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

We want manufacturing not just to lead BC’s recovery but to become a world leader in advanced manufacturing and job creation.

That’s why we need policies that will keep our industry competitive and allow it to power our economic recovery. We want to keep jobs and bring prosperity here at home.

Here are 5 steps governments can take to make it easier for BC manufacturers to power our economic recovery:

  1. Expand the development and upgrading of natural resources through improved, clear, and simple regulatory processes.
  2. Use government procurement to encourage research and development, commercialization, and business scale-up.
  3. Introduce investment support programs to help our manufacturing sector make the capital investments that drive tech adoption, improve environmental performance, engage in employee training, and scale-up.
  4. Encourage youth engagement in skilled trades through awareness programs and funding for work-integrated learning.
  5. Permanently remove the PST from machinery and equipment with a long-term plan to create a made in BC Value-Added Tax.

SPOTLIGHT ON MANUFACTURERS

Find out about manufacturers who are creating good, rewarding jobs in their communities

SEI Industries

Location: Delta, BC
Several industries rely on critical, time sensitive products manufactured and exported by SEI’s 48,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility, including wildfire management, military, aviation, oil and gas, mining, remote construction and environmental spill and disaster response.

BI Pure Water

Location: Surrey, BC
BI Pure Water has been building water and waste treatment systems for twenty five years, providing quality engineered solutions for municipalities, First Nations communities, industry, mining and remote work sites.

STEMCELL TECHNOLOGIES

Location: Vancouver, BC
Find out how STEMCELL manufactures tissue culture media for growing a wide variety of human cells and organoids used for drug discovery, as well as for understanding the regulation of cell growth and how this goes wrong in cancer.

YETI REFRIGERATION

Location: Prince George, BC
Find out how Yeti and their team of technicians take pride in providing modern solutions across the interior of BC that support local athletes and multinational food producers alike.

VMAC

Location: Nanaimo, BC
VMAC’s story begins humbly, when two mechanical engineers, Jim Hogan and Tony Menard, began building jet engines for the Canadian Department of National Defense in 1986.

FREEPORT INDUSTRIES

Location: Westbank, BC
For over 20 years, Freeport has designed and built high-quality custom homes and commercial, industrial , and institutional structures in the Okanagan, West Kelowna, and Lower Mainland of BC as well as Alberta and Yukon.

TYCROP

Location: Chilliwack, BC
TYCROP Trailers is the premier manufacturer of bulk haul fleet solutions in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest to organizations that are looking for profitable solutions and long-term Customer Care relationships.