BC Budget Disappoints Manufacturers Again

VICTORIA (February 18, 2020) –  Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is disappointed the BC budget issued today did not include measures to help support the growth of the manufacturing sector.

“The cost of doing business in British Columbia is always on the rise. Unfortunately, there is very little in this budget to support manufacturers in addressing this challenge,” stated Andrew Wynn-Williams,  CME Divisional Vice President for BC. “While the training measures put forward today will help address the skills and labour shortages, there is nothing meaningful to support competitiveness.”

Manufacturers in British Columbia are falling being their international counterparts in terms of technology adoption and, its pre-budget consultations, CME highlighted the importance of incentivizing investment in technology, equipment, and automation to maintain the competitiveness of the industry. Regrettably, the government failed to recognize the importance of supporting investments in this budget.

“Despite the government’s commitment that BC’s leadership on climate change would not impair business competitiveness, there is no expansion of the CleanBC Industrial Incentive and Industrial Investment programs to companies emitting less than 10,000 tonnes of carbon,” added Wynn-Williams. “This is a critical disadvantage to companies who make things here and export them elsewhere.”

“Carbon tax revenue will reach nearly $2 billion next fiscal. It is time we re-invest those revenues to help boost the competitiveness of manufacturers who contribute significantly to this fund.”

Read the BC Provincial Budget 2020 Backgrounder

 

ABOUT CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS & EXPORTERS

Since 1871, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters has been helping manufacturers grow at home and, compete around the world. Our focus is to ensure manufacturers are recognized as engines for growth in the economy, with Canada acknowledged as both a global leader and innovator in advanced manufacturing and a global leader in exporting. CME is a member-driven association that directly represents more than 2,500 leading companies who account for an estimated 82 per cent of manufacturing output and 90 per cent of Canada’s exports.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stefi Proulx
Director of Communications & Branding
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
(613) 292-6070
stefi.proulx@cme-mec.ca