BC Election 2017: Your quick guide to jobs and the economy

Ahead of the 2017 BC election, Daily Hive has produced seven quick guides to the key issues affecting young voters. To find all the guides and our full BC Election coverage, click here: Battleground BC.

Long story short

With Canada adding 48,000 jobs in January of this year – of which British Columbia saw the highest gains – the issue of jobs and the economy is a big one for BC. In March, the province posted an unemployment rate of 5.4%, the lowest in Canada. But is the outlook really as bright for everyone as it seems?

Why does it matter?

Opportunities for good-paying jobs across all sectors help create the vitally-important successful economy needed for the future prosperity of the province. If people can’t afford to live here, they will move away, leaving behind a labour shortage. This will force companies to move away to find workers, hitting the province’s tax coffers hard.

What do people want?

BC is an expensive to call home, and people want to be sure their salary keeps pace with the spiralling cost of living. While the minimum wage has increased, many believe it’s not enough. Others believe pipeline and LNG products across BC are the way to go, including a $1.6-billion Woodfibre LNG project.

What does it mean to you?

It’s important to be able to afford where you live and provide for yourself and loved ones. If cash-strapped workers leave, companies will follow, and well-paid jobs will disappear too. So too, will the income tax dollars BC will no longer have to spend on public services like education and healthcare.

Who’s talking about it?

Generation Squeeze, a young people’s lobby group, says BC is the worst performing economy in Canada for younger generations. There is also concern that BC’s positive economic showing is overshadowed by consumer debt and wages that don’t keep pace with the cost of living. From minimum-wage earners to those in the tech sector and everywhere in between, employment opportunities across the province remain at the forefront of voters minds, as well as the minds of those who hope to form the next BC government.

What do the parties say?

BC NDP

The NDP tells Daily Hive that “a strong economy is when everyone is doing better.”

Among the BC NDP’s plan to support job growth and the economy is:

Reducing the small business tax rate from 2.5% to 2%.
Creating 96,000 construction jobs while building new roads, schools, hospitals and public transit.

SEE MORE: BC NDP and jobs and the economy in detail

BC Liberals

The BC Liberals tell Daily Hive they have “a detailed plan to continue to create jobs and support economic growth.”

Among the BC Liberals plan to support job growth and the economy is:

Investing $87 million into the BC Tech Strategy
Expanding offices in Silicon Valley and establishing a presence in Seattle
Attracting more film and TV business from the US and Asia
Supporting resource-based jobs, including LNG, mining, forestry, oil and gas
Supporting a new BC hops industry to feed craft beer demand

SEE MORE: BC Liberals and jobs and the economy in detail

BC Greens

The BC Green Party tells Daily Hive that “BC needs a strong vision and an actionable strategy in order to succeed amidst rapid changes and seize the available opportunities.”

Among the BC Liberals plan to support job growth and the economy is:

Investing in business incubators and accelerators, partnerships with universities
Ensuring that startups and small enterprises have access to affordable spaces.

SEE MORE: BC Greens and jobs and the economy in detail

The big question

Will the next BC government ensure a bright economic future for all British Columbians, particularly younger workers?

To find more quick guides and our full BC Election coverage, click here: Battleground BC.