It can be difficult to grasp just how important the resource sector is to the province's economy. But a research report produced by economist Philip Cross for Resource Works gives us a useful picture

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

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

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

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.