-Sector could create 2.6 million new jobs while setting the foundation for a low-emissions future
The Surrey Board of Trade is pleased to support and be a part of the Natural Resource Economic Recovery Plan Task Force. The Surrey Board of Trade is a part of a national Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery—which represents over a quarter of a million businesses and over 3 million workers across Canada. Today we released Securing Canada’s Economic Future: Natural resources for real jobs and real recovery, a blueprint for Canada’s economic recovery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Surrey has the greatest number of manufacturers in BC – and is well positioned as the soon-to-be largest city in BC – to be an active economic player for economic recovery,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “For example, 190 companies in Surrey in 2018 sold more than $111 million in goods and services to the mining industry. Surrey is in fact one of the biggest benefactors of BC’s mining industry.”
Economic modelling conducted for the Task Force indicates that with the right success conditions, natural resources and manufacturing could create up to 2.6 million new jobs and up to a 17 per cent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). This could amount to a nearly $200-billion increase in potential labour earnings, while still moving Canada towards a low-emissions future.
The resource sector is also key to economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities and peoples. Indigenous-owned businesses are 40 times more likely to be involved in the mining and oil and gas sectors than the average Canadian business.
The Report includes a series of extensive, wide-ranging recommendations to achieve these goals, among them:
· Mobilizing resource prosperity by leveraging Canada’s world-class industries; advancing regulatory efficiency; attracting capital investment; enhancing critical infrastructure; ensuring access to resource lands; and maximizing Indigenous economic participation
· Building meaningful employment by ensuring job creation; building employment resiliency; advancing Indigenous employment; and enhancing skilled workforce mobility
· Accelerating innovation and environmental competitiveness by aligning climate action and natural resource development; driving challenge-oriented innovation; advancing emissions reduction technologies and plastics innovation; supporting advancements in sustainable forestry and mining; and developing hydrogen and small modular nuclear reactor industries
The Task Force will deliver the report and recommendations to the Federal Government, including the Industry Strategy Council, a federal initiative launched in response to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery
The Task Force for Real Jobs, Real Recovery is supported by a coalition of over 35 industry associations, unions, professional organizations and Indigenous organizations representing the energy, manufacturing, chemistry, mining, transportation, forestry and construction sectors. A group of 20 expert advisors has been appointed to help develop and communicate a set of policy recommendations for rebuilding Canada’s economic prosperity. The Task Force represents over a quarter of a million businesses and over 3 million workers across Canada.
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