^{Advisory Committee} Economic Competitiveness & Trade

The Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO) has a mission to promote fairness, openness and transparency in federal procurement. In their most recent annual report, the OPO outlined multiple concerns with government procurement processes in Canada, such as overly complex processes, restrictive evaluation criteria, and a lack of transparency, debriefs and documentation. These issues hinder the competitiveness of the procurement process, create barriers for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and reduce public trust in how taxpayer dollars are spent. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure a fair, efficient, and transparent procurement process that supports a diverse range of suppliers.

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The BC WorkSafe Board of Directors has set a target funding level of assets over liabilities at no less than 130%. However, the current policy lacks an upper limit, leading to a significant surplus over the years. As of December 31, 2023, WorkSafeBC’s funding ratio was approximately 147% (down from 161% in 2020), with an unappropriated surplus of $1.95 billion and reserves of $5.1 billion. A structured refund mechanism is necessary to ensure these excess funds benefit employers while maintaining system stability.

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The Federal Government of Canada is investing heavily in critical minerals that includes
uranium extraction for the purposes of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. Climate change
reduction policy based on targets have been implemented on an international scale. The BC
Government has created a plan to become net-zero in terms of emissions produced in BC by
2050. Globally, the energy-sector’s carbon emissions grew by more than 40% over the past 18
years. Countries like France and Germany are trying to diversify their energy production by
utilizing a method that is both emission-reducing, and safe – nuclear power. BC currently has
unexplored uranium and thorium deposits that can be exported to other provinces and
countries, which will create economic prosperity in the province.

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Unpredictable trade policies, shifting international alliances, and the rise of protectionist
measures — particularly from key trading partners such as the United States — pose significant
and ongoing challenges to Canadian industries. For B.C. businesses, whose success is deeply
tied to global trade, the uncertainty surrounding tariffs and market access discourages
investment and undermines economic growth. Canada must adopt a proactive, flexible, and
strategic approach to secure its economic interests, reduce dependency on volatile markets,
and support domestic industry resilience.

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The recent changes to Canada’s Express Entry system, specifically the removal of additional
points for job offers supported by Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), are aimed at
reducing fraudulent practices within the immigration system. While well-intentioned, this
policy shift has raised significant concerns about its broader implications for skilled workers,
employers, and the overall economic landscape of Canada.

The issue revolves around two primary areas:
1. The removal of LMIA points could exacerbate existing labour shortages, particularly in
sectors that rely on highly skilled foreign workers. Employers, already facing challenges
in filling critical roles, may struggle further to attract the talent necessary to maintain
competitiveness and drive economic growth.

2. For skilled workers, particularly those with significant international experience, the LMIA
points often make the difference in meeting Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
thresholds. Without these points, many qualified individuals may find it more difficult to
achieve permanent residency, and as a result, potential candidates will not immigrate
to Canada and choose countries where they can achieve permanent residency.

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Canada’s energy sector is a key driver of economic prosperity, providing jobs, investment, and
revenue for governments. However, regulatory uncertainty, including the Impact Assessment
Act1 (administered by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) and processes under the
Canadian Energy Regulator, infrastructure constraints, and policy barriers have hindered the
sector’s ability to compete globally. Without decisive action, Canada risks losing its
competitive advantage in oil and natural gas production. To ensure sustainable economic
growth and energy security, the government must implement policies that facilitate
investment, expedite project approvals, and promote responsible resource development.

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British Columbia’s natural gas sector is a key driver of the province’s economy, creating tens of thousands of high-quality, well-paying jobs, and supporting communities across the province.

To become a globally competitive energy hub, the province must establish a stable and predictable regulatory framework, advance responsible resource development, and avoid policies that restrict economic growth. A clear commitment to maximizing the integrated natural gas value-chain and expanding export opportunities is essential to achieving BC’s energy potential.

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Duty-free stores at Canada’s land border crossings are facing sustained operational challenges due to evolving border policies, geopolitical trade tensions, and outdated regulatory frameworks that restrict modernization. With traffic volumes still recovering post-pandemic, these 32 businesses — primarily located in rural or border-reliant regions — are experiencing significant revenue declines. This resolution proposes targeted policy reforms and regulatory modernization to ensure the long-term viability of the sector, which supports jobs, tourism, and small business ecosystems in border communities.

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Inflation has been relatively sticky for the last year. As a result, the Bank of Canada has elected
to raise interest rates. Interest rate increases have impacted many people and will continue to
do so. Interest rates increases have resulted in unaffordable mortgages for businesses and
homeowners. These high interest rates are also creating pressure on the economy resulting in
the closure of businesses. The Federal Government has other policy levers to curb inflation,
namely a budget surplus. Instead of increasing the cost of living and attempting to reduce it by
creating more debt, the federal government should use a lever that has been proven effective,
which is the balancing of their budget and running a surplus.
High government spending that is not matched by sufficient revenue can lead to fiscal deficits.
To finance these deficits, the government may resort to borrowing from the central bank or
financial markets. When the central bank creates money to buy government debt (monetary
financing), it can potentially increase the money supply, leading to inflation.

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In 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction
Plan. The government indicated they heard from 30,000 Canadians in the consultation
process, however, the impact these programs will have on taxes and debt remain to be seen or
understood.
Many questions were not answered, such as: What’s realistic? How feasible are the Plan’s
projected 2030 outcomes? What are their implications for the economy, for households, and
for businesses? We need to also understand what the results of the previous plans have been.
We have had emissions targets since the 1980’s and Canada have always fallen short.

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The fitness and exercise industry was severely negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
and related restrictions. Years later, amidst rising health concerns and escalating costs of
living, there’s a pressing need for policies that promote public health as well as economic and
business success. Allowing Canadians to claim fitness memberships as an eligible medical
expense on their tax returns represents such a policy.

The Federal Government has the ability to generate a return on investment (the investment
being a healthier populous, lower reliance on the healthcare system, and a happier workforce)
by allowing people to claim fitness memberships and services as medical expenses on tax
returns. By making fitness memberships more accessible through tax credits, this policy aims
to invigorate the fitness industry, encourage widespread physical activity, and forge a path
toward improved national health and reduced healthcare costs.

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The recent federal and provincial government decisions imposing caps on international student visas pose significant challenges to the economic contributions of these students, impacting local communities, businesses, and the public and private post-secondary educational institutions. The lack of consultation with private institutions exacerbates the negative repercussions and necessitates immediate attention to safeguard the vital role of international students in our economy.

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The B.C. Government’s new Lobbyists Transparency Act (2020) (LTA) has placed considerable
burden on the not-for-profit sector and smaller organizations, including Chambers of
Commerce and Boards of Trade. In addition, this legislation undermines the democratic
process that enables organizations to lobby and advocate to government. It significantly
constrains communications and collaboration with government on the impact of key decisions
and direction on regulations, law, policy and programming.

Resourcing and support must be considered in the context of the not-for-profit sector,
recognizing that these are typically small organizations with additional burden and differences
related to organizational size and capacity for reporting compliance. Regarding Chambers of
Commerce and Boards of Trade, their genesis was specifically to enable advocacy from SMEs
to government and require an exemption to much of the LTA. Government relies on advocacy
and research to inform themselves of different issues impacting the economy, and this Act
decreases the ability for Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade to do that effectively,
costing businesses and organizations time and money as additional resources are needed to
follow the new administrative rules of the Lobbying Act.

Businesses that now have to register their activities as lobbyists are facing financial costs, and
it consumes their time. These costs prohibit many crucial organizations from participating in
the democratic process by informing government of issues.

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The current regulatory landscape in British Columbia poses a significant challenge for
companies due to the disparate disclosure requirements related to Transparency Registers,
Speculation and Vacancy Tax, and Canada’s enhanced mandatory disclosure rules. The lack of
harmonization in reporting criteria, filing timelines, and data elements creates an
administrative burden for businesses, leading to potential errors, non-compliance risks, and
increased resource demands. Addressing this issue is crucial to streamline the disclosure
process, reduce complexities, and foster better compliance with both provincial and federal
regulations.

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The race to create a COVID-19 vaccine through collaboration across industries and
pharmaceutical companies has exposed more cybersecurity risks than ever before. COVID-19
is not going to be the last pandemic we will face, but it has taught us valuable lessons about
the inadequacies of our cybersecurity, which need to be addressed. In research and
development, clinical trials, manufacturing and distribution, there’s a proliferation of potential
threats that cyber attackers are targeting, as evidenced.1
These attacks led to billions of dollars in stolen intellectual property (IP), disruption to supply
chains and negatively impacted public perception of the vaccine, delaying appropriate uptake.
The Government of Canada needs to ensure that disruption to vaccine manufacturing,
distribution, and IP theft is mitigated.

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Organized criminal (OC) groups have two main uses for marine ports: profit-oriented crimes
that generate revenue such as importation of illegal drugs, counterfeit goods (tobacco
products, pharmaceutical products, clothing), and illegal immigrants, and cargo theft; and
tactical support crimes to facilitate their profit-oriented activities. This involves corruption of,
and to a lesser extent intimidation of, industry insiders, security and law enforcement
personnel. Stolen cars and domestically produced synthetic drugs were cited as the most
frequent illegal goods exported through Canadian commercial marine ports.

Legislation exists to reduce criminality at Ports, but as OC groups become more
sophisticated, different measures are needed. Some of the ways the Government of Canada
can enable ports to reduce criminality include port training for local police forces of jurisdiction,
a broader security clearance program to include more categories of persons, enhancing
security plans to ensure a plan is in place for criminality not just critical infrastructure, and
information sharing among supply chain partners.

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British Columbia’s reliance on its natural resource sectors, coupled with the emerging influence of high-tech industries, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive industrial policy. The lack of such a policy has led to increased operational costs and investment shifts, adversely affecting businesses, workers, and Indigenous communities. Projections indicate a potential economic shortfall under the current policies, signalling a pressing need for the Provincial Government to collaborate with all sectors to develop an industrial strategy. This strategy should aim to support the province’s economic base while fostering growth in emerging industries, ensuring economic prosperity and environmental sustainability in harmony.

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The transportation industry in Canada is grappling with growing concerns related to the absence of a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure plan, as highlighted by the annual WESTAC Compass Report. The absence of such a plan is particularly worrying given the critical need to address capacity constraints, infrastructure bottlenecks, and the efficient functioning of trade corridors.

To address these concerns effectively, it is imperative that a collaborative effort is undertaken to enhance cooperation among stakeholders within the supply chain. This collaboration should result in the creation of a forward-looking, strategically designed long-term infrastructure plan.

This plan would serve as a crucial tool in achieving Canada’s environmental and trade objectives.

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The current government funding approach for the charitable and non-profit sector in Canada needs to be refreshed so the sector can continue to deliver effective support for communities and equity frameworks. Despite the essential role played by non-profits in delivering government services and supporting those most in need, the sector faces historical underfunding and increasing challenges due to the impact of global events, such as the pandemic and cost of living crises. These challenges have led to burnout, staff turnover, and financial strain, putting the sector’s capacity to serve at serious risk.

The major issues with the current funding structure include the following:
1. Lack of Core Funding
2. Burdensome Reporting Requirements
3. Lack of Flexibility and Innovation

In light of the substantial economic and social contributions made by the non-profit sector in Canada, it is imperative for the government to address these issues and reform the funding structure. By investing in core funding, reducing administrative burdens, and promoting flexibility and innovation, the government can strengthen the non-profit sector’s ability to effectively serve communities and uphold equity frameworks. Such improvements will not only support the sector’s growth but also contribute to the overall well-being and prosperity of the country.

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New developments in all of BC, especially in the Metro Vancouver area, are severely delayed due to the required environmental review assessment at the provincial level. This exacerbates the housing crisis as housing is not built to meet the demand of an expanding population. The municipal environmental review process can be expedited with more staffing at the provincial level and the re-establish of an environmental review committee with municipal staff, provincial regulators, and industry representatives.

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The trade tensions Canada experiences for four years during the presidency of Donald Trump will not go away overnight. On the contrary, President Joe Biden has made some shocking policy decisions that have devastated the Canadian economy, cost thousands of jobs, and undermined the already fragile trade relationship between Canada and the United States. Canada must utilize every tool in its international trade tool chest to show its determination in putting the interest of Canadian and our economy at the forefront. One such tool is using our existing trade laws Section 52 of the Custom Tariff.

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B.C. has made significant commitments to electrification of passenger and some light-industrial vehicles. Canada has also proposed regulations that indicate one-fifth of all passenger cards, SUVs and trucks sold in Canada in 2026 will need to operate on electricity.

Battery lifespans are estimated to last between 10-20 years. Electric vehicles have been on the
market for close to 10 years already and some already require battery recycling. The batteries will then need to be recycled. The issue remains that there are limited battery recycling facilities across Canada.1 As a result, the Provincial and Federal Government should investigate how many more recycling facilities will be needed and determine which communities to target.

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Governments across the world have made substantial efforts to combat climate change, from banning the sale of combustion-engine vehicles, to investing in active transportation. Transportation is the largest single contributor to B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions so change in the sector is essential. Although these programs will result in an important move away from oil and gas-powered vehicles and towards sustainable modes of transportation such as using electric vehicles, transit systems, biking or walking, policy and legislation must change to reach the true potential of sustainable transportation systems. Cyclists are offered minimal protection in the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act and as a result, many residents are held back from adopting active transportation alternatives to single-passenger vehicles. This will result in the
B.C. Government falling short of its Vision Zero and climate goals.

There is also little investment in micromobility, which is the general term for fleets of small, low-speed vehicles (primarily bikes and scooters) for personal transportation, which can be either human powered or electric or a combination of the two. Micromobility is primarily found in urban areas and used for short trips in areas with good connectivity and a density of destinations.

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Pension security is an important asset that employees require to be productive and loyal to employers. The current pension models used by Canada are dying and unable to account for the many employees due to the ineligibility for the described benefit or described contribution. Additionally, pensions are volatile and depend on market stability, which is not always the case. This leads to uncertain and unproductive employees.

There are still too many working Canadians that do not have an employer-sponsored pension plan (Defined Benefit (DB), Defined Contribution (DC), or group Registered Retirement Plans (RRSP)) to supplement their retirement income, together with their CPP.

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