BC Premier Christy Clark assured those attending the 13th Annual Natural Resources Forum in Prince George the province is well-positioned to ride out the current challenges in the global economy.
The Premier said a balanced budget and diversified economy have helped BC weather conditions that have left oil-dependent Alberta and debt-ridden Ontario struggling.
And while she admitted our resource sectors, particularly LNG and mining are facing challenges, she said now is the time to support what’s always been our bedrock, and not put on brakes.
“So I’m not prepared, really, to take advice from those who would tell us that we should ban raw log exports, or that we should have a moratorium on LNG, that we should we should stop Site C in its tracks, or that we should make sure that we should do everything we can to make mining tougher to do.”
Clark told delegates to the sold-out luncheon, it’s a time to ‘keep our eye on the ball’.
“Because you are the industries that we depend on, you are the ones that are going to keep us on top.” She said, “Fifty thousand new jobs in the last year was no accident, it was purposeful, and it happened because of you. We want to keep supporting you in doing that through these tough times.”
Clark said just because the liquefied natural gas industry has been slower to take off, doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. She said natural gas prices will inevitably rise again and BC will be ready with a good foundation in place. The Premier pointed to news that Alta Gas has signed agreements totalling $500-million dollars to develop an export terminal near Prince Rupert, as proof the liquefied natural gas industry continues to make headway.
With much of BC’s annual $12-billion dollars in forestry exports coming from northern BC, Clark also told those gathered at the forum she’s, personally, made softwood lumber a high priority with the new Prime Minister. She said she was encouraged when Justin Trudeau raised the issue during his first phone call with US President Barack Obama. Clark says expects more news on the next steps towards a softwood lumber agreement soon.
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