By: Anne L. Coulombe
November, 1998

I don’t think the problems facing the B.C. economy are simple, so I spent 2 days at the B.C. Business Summit this past month to talk about it. Here are some of the highlights.

In simple terms, B.C. business-people want to lower the personal tax rate, lower the business tax rates and cut government red tape. We do admit we are bordered by the 2 lowest tax jurisdictions in North America!

The conference put forth consolidated goals for economic renewal:

1. Make B.C. the most competitive tax environment in Canada
2. Make B.C. the most competitive regulatory environment in Canada
3. Strike a new partnership between management and labour
4. Increase access to land and resources for the resource and tourism sectors
5. Balance the provincial government’s budget
6. Make B.C.’s workforce the most productive and innovative in Canada through renewed commitment to education and training

Specific to Agriculture & Food:

This session was chaired by Steve Torrence, Executive Director of the B.C. Horticultural Coalition with the following speakers: Russ Husch, Chair of the B.C. Agriculture Council; Marlene Van Baalen, Owner and Marketing Director of Brookside Greenhouses Ltd.; and, David Coe, CEO of Dairyworld Foods.

Some of the issues:

• 200 commodities
• Farmgate of $1.6 billion a year with over 34,000 employed
• Food & beverage processing generates $4.3 billion in value of shipments and employs 22,000
• Total value of the industry from producer to consumer is $16 billion and accounts for 250,000 employees
• International exports valued at $1.7 billion and interprovincial exports valued at $1.1 billion

• Renew commitment to investment in agriculture, agri-food and research
• Raise the profile such as B.C. Ag. Council and B.C. Hort. Coalition have been doing
• Better public education and more attention to marketing. Preserve venues such as the PNE to educate urbanites!
• Reduce barriers to business
• Adopt technological change to increase competitiveness
• Use cross-industry technology applications
• Keep the vision
• Get involved ….. it is your industry

I found the B.C. Business Summit was enlightening and educational. Coming from the technology sector and now working with the agricultural sector for the past few years, I see more synergy than many expect. The issues within the agriculture and technology sectors are similar: high taxes, high labour costs, labour organization fears, need for education, investment dollars, increasing exports, global competitiveness requirement, lack of marketing and industry visibility, much success and industry growth despite government roadblocks.

Hooray to those who speak up! For the quieter ones, continue to raise the issues and support positive change to drive this industry and the B.C. economy back on track.

Anne L. Coulombe