News & Views
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
Read more
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?
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
Articles
Putting Russia's pipeline deal with China into perspective
For more insight, see the commentary piece by Stewart Muir
Read moreArticles
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read moreArticles
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read moreArticles
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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?
Read more
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?
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
Articles
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
Read more
Articles
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'
Read more
Articles
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
Read more
Articles
BC First Nations eye massive LNG windfall
Northern aboriginal communities are developing a strategy they hope will net them hundreds of millions of dollars if they support liquefied natural gas projects and pipelines
Read more
Articles
Bruce Anderson: drowning out the 'no way' chorus
Opinion: When it comes to Site C, British Columbians are pragmatic. People know power is worthy if the environment doesn't suffer
Read more
Articles
Mythbuster economist takes to the airwaves
Resource Works senior research fellow Philip Cross discusses the groundbreaking research related in his 7 Myths of the BC Resource Economy report on the Bill Good radio show
Read more
Articles
Resources generate 'disproportionate share of Canada’s wealth'
Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was asked to identify the 'next big thing for Canada' by an Ottawa think-tank. The result was a speech he delivered in Ottawa. Here’s the written text of that speech
Read more
Reports
High impact: the economic importance of BC's natural resources
A 10 percent boost in BC’s natural-resource economy would mean an extra $2.137 billion in the province's’s GDP, an extra $4.5 billion across Canada, and more than 39,000 new jobs for British Columbians.
And 55 percent of those jobs would be in the Lower Mainland.
All this and much more from Philip Cross, former chief economic analyst for Statistics Canada.
He says that a 10 percent boost in our natural resource output is indeed realistic.
Read moreArticles
Sustainability is key to winning public support
Research shows that most British Columbians appreciate the importance of resource development, but want to ensure it is conducted in a 'world-class' manner
Read moreArticles
Trying to alleviate poverty? There is one sure-fire way to do it
Canada’s natural resources boom has been the key factor in narrowing the growing gap between the rich and the poor, BC economists told an Ottawa conference
Read more