News & Views
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
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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
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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
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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'
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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
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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
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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
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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
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'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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Putting Russia's pipeline deal with China into perspective
For more insight, see the commentary piece by Stewart Muir
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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
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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
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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
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Reports
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Reports
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Top BC welder talks about handling massive business growth
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
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Bridging opinion gaps on natural resources in British Columbia
Dr Lyn Anglin appears on Radio NL to talk with Jim Harrison about the Resource Works Society: 'The feeling in the Interior has long been that those who live in the Lower Mainland just don't understand the value of BC's resource sector'
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Resources are a global challenge, not Just a Canadian one
It is estimated that $11-17 trillion in global investment is needed by 2030 in minerals and oil & gas, if current consumption trends continue. Much of this resource extraction will occur in developing countries
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