NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008OTP0259-001605 Oct. 22, 2008	Office of the Premier
PREMIER ANNOUNCES MEASURES TO BUILD ECONOMIC STRENGTHS

NANAIMO – The Province will seek input from British Columbia’s industries and communities and some of the country’s top economic minds to help keep the provincial economy strong for the future, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

 

            “We are focusing on two key priorities for our economy: competitiveness and productivity,” said Premier Campbell. “We will be seeking the best possible input and expert advice on ways we can improve in those two areas and ensure our provincial economy remains strong.”

 

            The Province will undertake a series of initiatives to solicit economic expertise and advice on how to build on B.C.’s economic strengths:

 

·          A new Economic Advisory Council will be created, composed of some of Canada’s top CEOs, academics and economists.

·          A “New North” Economic Summit will be organized for January in Prince George and will focus on the unique opportunities and challenges in that region.

·          A two-day Economic Summit will be held in Vancouver in late January to look at ways to capitalize on economic opportunities.

·          New measures will be taken to implement the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement with Alberta. The agreement will be fully implemented by April 1, 2009 and create the second-largest economy in Canada.

• B.C. will work with other provinces and the federal government to eliminate regulatory duplication and reduce costs of federal-provincial overlap.

 

            “There are enormous opportunities to continue growing and diversifying our economy, from opening up our northern energy and transportation corridors to bioenergy to hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Premier Campbell. “We’ll look at how we can build on our potential as Canada’s Pacific Gateway to Asia and how we can lower costs, increase competitiveness and build productivity.”

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Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177
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