News & Reports

Articles

It’s time to start trusting the judgment of those most affected by development

Recently, I attended a visit to Ottawa by a delegation from Germany. Virtually the whole discussion was taken up with energy issues, something one of the participants remarked would not have even been mentioned five years ago

Posted by | July 10, 2014 12:00 PM

Videos

Here’s a unique voice on economic prosperity and environmental sustainability

Posted by | July 04, 2014 8:47 AM

Articles

Four views on one pipeline

Resource Works is an organization that, quite uniquely in British Columbia, examines the economic consequences of natural resource development

Posted by | June 20, 2014 10:10 AM

Articles

Top 10 reasons BC stands to gain from LNG

It is highly advantageous for the province to sell its liquefied natural gas to Asia. Here's why

Posted by | June 19, 2014 12:00 PM

Articles

Why the future of LNG lies beyond North America

Even the long, cold winter that swept across most of Canada and the United States won’t be enough to fuel a recovery of British Columbia’s shrinking natural gas market

Posted by | June 18, 2014 12:41 PM

Articles

Poll: Canadians underestimate economic importance of the East

It’s quite a contradiction. Canada is relying more and more on trade with Asia, but people are less and less convinced that it matters

Posted by | June 17, 2014 6:59 PM

Articles

BC’s dysfunctional resource debate, part 4: The elephant in the room - climate change

Report: 'Our reputation is hurting us. It is especially hurting our ability to address perceptions in key markets and to generate support for many resource projects'

Posted by | June 17, 2014 9:05 AM

Articles

Our unacceptable ignorance about labour shortages

There is a longstanding, legitimate fear in Western Canada that there will not be enough workers to fuel imminent economic growth. It’s a shame we don't know what we're talking about

Posted by | June 13, 2014 9:13 AM

Articles

Canada’s resource tide is in – will it miss the boat?

There is a tide in the affairs of development projects, as Shakespeare might have said, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries

Posted by | June 12, 2014 4:33 PM

Articles

Report: BC’s economy to grow faster than Canada’s

The bank predicts healthy GDP growth rates above the expected rate of growth for the country as a whole

Posted by | June 12, 2014 1:25 PM

Articles

Coal sector ups and downs felt provincewide

News last week that Peace River Coal was idling operations in Tumbler Ridge is the latest sign of an industry slowdown that impacts jobs and revenue in every corner of BC

Posted by | June 12, 2014 11:43 AM

Articles

'Canada has to compete harder than ever to sell its resources'

The key message to emerge from an energy forum is that the country is at a crossroads: where once we supplied only one customer, now we’re trying to supply the world. It’s a big transition, and it won’t be easy

Posted by | June 10, 2014 6:31 PM

Articles

Northern Gateway poll: What does it mean for environment and jobs?

It’s the undecideds who have it in a survey showing a three-way split in support for the pipeline

Posted by | June 10, 2014 3:49 PM

Articles

Accessing tidewater is key to increasing oil revenue

Compelling evidence from Bloomberg confirms that pipeline expansion in British Columbia is worth tens of billions of dollars to the Canadian economy

Posted by | June 10, 2014 1:40 PM

Articles

BC’s dysfunctional resource debate, Part 3: Action not marketing

Previously in this series, I’ve discussed a few reasons why our public discourse on natural-resource issues has become so dismal

Posted by | June 08, 2014 8:56 AM

Articles

Former BC premier Dan Miller takes to airwaves to defend resource development

In case you missed it: Dan Miller's op-ed appeared in The Province newspaper

Posted by | June 06, 2014 3:45 PM

Articles

One in 10 Canadians is employed thanks to natural resources (and other neat facts)

According to new figures released by Natural Resources Canada, BC ranks in the middle in terms of both the number of people employed in the sector and its contribution to provincial GDP

Posted by | June 06, 2014 11:11 AM

Articles

The 9 Habits of Highly Effective Resource Economies: Lessons for Canada

The Canadian International Council released this whimsically titled but very serious report in 2012. The basic question it asked was: How can the country derive maximum benefit from its tremendous natural advantages?

Posted by | June 04, 2014 12:53 PM

Articles

Economy spins around urban log brokers

From his office in New Westminster, Probyn Log vice-president Bill Markvoort is about as far from the woods as you can get, but he is at the hub of a business that keeps the coastal forest industry humming

Posted by | June 03, 2014 12:34 PM

Articles

BC's dysfunctional resource debate, Part 2: It’s our institutions, stupid

This is the second post in a series looking at why our public discourse has become so toxic

Posted by | June 01, 2014 12:00 PM

Articles

How California’s natural gas champion raised the green roof at event

One of the most avidly listened-to speakers at the recent LNG conference in Vancouver was Richard Muller, a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He put natural gas into perspective in terms of climate change and water safety, arguing that it is a 'saviour' fuel

Posted by | May 29, 2014 3:22 PM

Articles

LNG in BC Conference attracting students for education, training and research opportunities

One of the more unexpected sights at the event is the crowds of young people strolling the halls of the Vancouver Convention Centre

Posted by | May 23, 2014 9:07 AM

Articles

Putting Russia's pipeline deal with China into perspective

For more insight, see the commentary piece by Stewart Muir

Posted by | May 22, 2014 11:59 PM

Articles

New pipeline rules raise pressure on industry to ensure safety

The federal government recently announced new regulations. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main points

Posted by | May 22, 2014 4:22 PM

Articles

Spin-off port spending a boon for city

Three Vancouver-area shipping terminals between them spend nearly $600 million on goods and services in British Columbia, according to figures released today. The impact includes $115 million in the city of Vancouver

Posted by | May 22, 2014 1:21 PM

Articles

Russia pipeline deal underlines high value natural gas has for China

In the 'Power of Siberia' deal announced this week between Russia and China, the parties have been secretive on the exact terms so it is difficult to draw comparisons to other such contracts

Posted by | May 22, 2014 11:37 AM

Reports & Series

Resource Stories - A joint venture with The Province newspaper

In a series of conversations with workers and business operators, The Province and Resource Works explore the contributions that trade, industry and natural resources make to the British Columbia economy

Posted by | May 21, 2014 4:05 PM

Articles

BC's dysfunctional resource debate, Part 1: A loss of trust

British Columbians stuck in the middle struggle to decide what to do with natural-resource projects

Posted by | May 21, 2014 2:55 PM

Articles

7 trends that tell the story of BC mining

Despite tough financial times, the sector remains busy. Company revenues have been hit hard by falling global prices for key commodities, leading to a sharp drop in profits. And yet, employment and mine output keep growing, suggesting that miners are focused on building assets for a future upswing

Posted by | May 20, 2014 3:55 PM

Articles

Why think-tank rates BC highly

The reason the province got a B grade for economic performance from the Conference Board of Canada is largely due to the health of its natural-resource sector

Posted by | May 20, 2014 1:18 PM

Articles

Resources: taking inventory of the economic benefits

In the conversations series for this week, Resource Works and The Province talk to Liliana Arias, purchasing manager for venerable Vancouver retailer Fontile Corp, and discuss its connection to natural resource trade

Posted by | May 18, 2014 4:21 PM

Reports & Series

BC's vital but often overlooked miners take centre stage

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what the sector means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

Posted by | May 17, 2014 11:55 AM

Articles

Mining industry 'a prime candidate for innovation'

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what the sector means for Metro Vancouver’s economy

Posted by | May 16, 2014 10:37 AM

Articles

Good resource development depends on understanding what the 'duty to consult' is - and what it isn’t

According to a recent study, misunderstandings around a key legal doctrine threaten both economic progress and aboriginal relations

Posted by | May 16, 2014 10:35 AM

Articles

Scotiabank: Copper set for 'big rebound'

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what mining means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

Posted by | May 15, 2014 10:44 AM

Videos

"You have to form a true partnership in order to be successful" - Interview with CEO of Seabridge Gold

Posted by | May 14, 2014 2:46 PM

Articles

Resources still the place to be in BC for good wages

Sector still leads the province in delivering high wages to workers, according to recent data from BC Stats

Posted by | May 14, 2014 1:38 PM

Articles

First Nations: testing a new way to resolve resource-related issues

The BC government just announced what promises to be an innovative collaborative approach with an important aboriginal community in the Interior

Posted by | May 14, 2014 11:43 AM

Articles

Balancing business and nature

In a series of conversations with workers and business operators, The Province and Resource Works explore the contributions that trade, industry, and natural resources make to the BC economy. This week, we talk with Alan Chen, sales manager for Long Hoh Enterprises Canada, a small lumber manufacturer serving a unique niche market

Posted by | May 13, 2014 9:35 AM

Articles

Q&A: Creating a First Nations workforce takes calculated effort by Red Chris Mine's engineers

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what mining means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

Posted by | May 13, 2014 8:32 AM

Articles

The pros and cons of power generation plan

The Site C Environmental Assessment Joint Review Panel has released its recommendations to government on the Peace River hydro-electric project. Here are the top benefits and costs of the dam, as reported by the panel

Posted by | May 12, 2014 10:07 AM

Articles

BC construction market "exciting to be in"

This week we talk with Blair Wilson, project manager for G Wilson Construction, a Vancouver company founded by his father Gordon that takes an old-school approach to carpentry and home building

Posted by | May 06, 2014 4:08 PM

Articles

Commentary: We have to put trust in our institutions if we want them to make tough decisions for us

BC often seems stuck in an endless struggle over resource development choices. In theory, we have effective public institutions to help guide us through tough collective decisions like these. So why do they seem to have so little influence?

Posted by | May 03, 2014 3:40 PM

Articles

A global leader – but word has not gotten out

Is Canada leading the world in natural resource development? And what does this question mean for how British Columbia approaches the extraction of its non-renewables and renewables?

Posted by | April 30, 2014 5:44 PM

Videos

Chinese media show strong interest in BC’s LNG story

Posted by | April 29, 2014 1:39 PM

Articles

Resource Runners storm the Sun Run

Scantily-clad joggers took to the streets of downtown Vancouver Sunday, determined to draw attention to the importance of BC’s resource economy to our day-to-day lives

Posted by | April 28, 2014 2:57 PM

Articles

How one local company is globalizing BC innovation

In a series of conversations with workers and business operators, The Province explores the contributions that trade, industry and natural resources make to the economy. This week we talk with Tim Epp, a plant manager at Britco, about competing globally in the modular construction industry

Posted by | April 28, 2014 9:54 AM

Articles

BC LNG doesn't have to be a massive polluter

Here are a few options the province has for minimizing carbon pollution from liquefied natural gas

Posted by | April 25, 2014 2:41 PM

Articles

Why we must shift our economic emphasis away from consumption

When it comes to the engine powering future growth in Canada, prepare for a fuel switch: the indebted Canadian consumer is tapped out and will have to be replaced by an increase in exports, especially to emerging markets in Asia

Posted by | April 23, 2014 1:04 PM

Articles

Our growing dependency on resources

As a recent Resource Works study by Philip Cross shows, the British Columbia natural resources sector continues to be a prime employment driver for the province

Posted by | April 22, 2014 10:38 AM

News & Reports

Recently, I attended a visit to Ottawa by a delegation from Germany. Virtually the whole discussion was taken up with energy issues, something one of the participants remarked would not have even been mentioned five years ago

Resource Works is an organization that, quite uniquely in British Columbia, examines the economic consequences of natural resource development

It is highly advantageous for the province to sell its liquefied natural gas to Asia. Here's why

Even the long, cold winter that swept across most of Canada and the United States won’t be enough to fuel a recovery of British Columbia’s shrinking natural gas market

It’s quite a contradiction. Canada is relying more and more on trade with Asia, but people are less and less convinced that it matters

Report: 'Our reputation is hurting us. It is especially hurting our ability to address perceptions in key markets and to generate support for many resource projects'

There is a longstanding, legitimate fear in Western Canada that there will not be enough workers to fuel imminent economic growth. It’s a shame we don't know what we're talking about

There is a tide in the affairs of development projects, as Shakespeare might have said, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries

The bank predicts healthy GDP growth rates above the expected rate of growth for the country as a whole

News last week that Peace River Coal was idling operations in Tumbler Ridge is the latest sign of an industry slowdown that impacts jobs and revenue in every corner of BC

The key message to emerge from an energy forum is that the country is at a crossroads: where once we supplied only one customer, now we’re trying to supply the world. It’s a big transition, and it won’t be easy

It’s the undecideds who have it in a survey showing a three-way split in support for the pipeline

Compelling evidence from Bloomberg confirms that pipeline expansion in British Columbia is worth tens of billions of dollars to the Canadian economy

Previously in this series, I’ve discussed a few reasons why our public discourse on natural-resource issues has become so dismal

In case you missed it: Dan Miller's op-ed appeared in The Province newspaper

According to new figures released by Natural Resources Canada, BC ranks in the middle in terms of both the number of people employed in the sector and its contribution to provincial GDP

The Canadian International Council released this whimsically titled but very serious report in 2012. The basic question it asked was: How can the country derive maximum benefit from its tremendous natural advantages?

From his office in New Westminster, Probyn Log vice-president Bill Markvoort is about as far from the woods as you can get, but he is at the hub of a business that keeps the coastal forest industry humming

This is the second post in a series looking at why our public discourse has become so toxic

One of the most avidly listened-to speakers at the recent LNG conference in Vancouver was Richard Muller, a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He put natural gas into perspective in terms of climate change and water safety, arguing that it is a 'saviour' fuel

One of the more unexpected sights at the event is the crowds of young people strolling the halls of the Vancouver Convention Centre

For more insight, see the commentary piece by Stewart Muir

The federal government recently announced new regulations. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main points

Three Vancouver-area shipping terminals between them spend nearly $600 million on goods and services in British Columbia, according to figures released today. The impact includes $115 million in the city of Vancouver

In the 'Power of Siberia' deal announced this week between Russia and China, the parties have been secretive on the exact terms so it is difficult to draw comparisons to other such contracts

In a series of conversations with workers and business operators, The Province and Resource Works explore the contributions that trade, industry and natural resources make to the British Columbia economy

British Columbians stuck in the middle struggle to decide what to do with natural-resource projects

Despite tough financial times, the sector remains busy. Company revenues have been hit hard by falling global prices for key commodities, leading to a sharp drop in profits. And yet, employment and mine output keep growing, suggesting that miners are focused on building assets for a future upswing

The reason the province got a B grade for economic performance from the Conference Board of Canada is largely due to the health of its natural-resource sector

In the conversations series for this week, Resource Works and The Province talk to Liliana Arias, purchasing manager for venerable Vancouver retailer Fontile Corp, and discuss its connection to natural resource trade

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what the sector means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what the sector means for Metro Vancouver’s economy

According to a recent study, misunderstandings around a key legal doctrine threaten both economic progress and aboriginal relations

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what mining means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

Sector still leads the province in delivering high wages to workers, according to recent data from BC Stats

The BC government just announced what promises to be an innovative collaborative approach with an important aboriginal community in the Interior

In a series of stories marking Mining Week, Resource Works takes a look at what mining means for Metro Vancouver’s economy - particularly in the areas of job creation and innovation

The Site C Environmental Assessment Joint Review Panel has released its recommendations to government on the Peace River hydro-electric project. Here are the top benefits and costs of the dam, as reported by the panel

This week we talk with Blair Wilson, project manager for G Wilson Construction, a Vancouver company founded by his father Gordon that takes an old-school approach to carpentry and home building

BC often seems stuck in an endless struggle over resource development choices. In theory, we have effective public institutions to help guide us through tough collective decisions like these. So why do they seem to have so little influence?

Is Canada leading the world in natural resource development? And what does this question mean for how British Columbia approaches the extraction of its non-renewables and renewables?

Scantily-clad joggers took to the streets of downtown Vancouver Sunday, determined to draw attention to the importance of BC’s resource economy to our day-to-day lives

In a series of conversations with workers and business operators, The Province explores the contributions that trade, industry and natural resources make to the economy. This week we talk with Tim Epp, a plant manager at Britco, about competing globally in the modular construction industry

Here are a few options the province has for minimizing carbon pollution from liquefied natural gas

When it comes to the engine powering future growth in Canada, prepare for a fuel switch: the indebted Canadian consumer is tapped out and will have to be replaced by an increase in exports, especially to emerging markets in Asia

As a recent Resource Works study by Philip Cross shows, the British Columbia natural resources sector continues to be a prime employment driver for the province

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