For decades, stable trade relationships, predictable markets, and reliable allies allowed Canada to grow, invest, and steadily improve living standards.
That era of stability is over.
Economic growth is now a national security imperative.
Amid a climate of weaponized trade and shifting alliances, Canada finally has something it has not had in years — consensus on the importance of economic growth.
However, this consensus is not success. We must now deliver results.
What Does Growth Mean?
This is crucial because for a generation, whether it's been the rising cost of housing, unaffordable grocery bills, or an increasingly heavy tax burden, too many British Columbians have felt the economy is not working for them.
Economic growth is not an abstract concept. It shows up in the lives of everyday people, the value of their work, their ability to provide for their families, and the hope that their children will have a better future.
That's why the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade launched The 3% Challenge, which set a provincial target of 3% annual economic growth and called on Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to adopt this target.
Building a stronger economy that works for the people and businesses that call this beautiful province home has always meant a better quality of life. But today economic growth goes beyond this, manifesting as a shield to attacks on our sovereignty and national security.
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B.C.'s Role in a New Canada
As a gateway to global markets, British Columbia sits at the centre of Canada's economic response and is a supplier of what the world increasingly needs - energy, critical minerals, and food. Our entrepreneurial spirit is unmatched; we are home to a vast supply of talent, and world leaders in apparel, tech, and financial and professional services are headquartered here. This is B.C.'s opportunity, and its test.
The Province laid important groundwork to action B.C.'s potential. Going forward, we want rhetoric to turn into delivery and results.
This will be measured in:
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade will engage government, convene industry, and apply sustained pressure to move past strategies and into execution. That means accelerating the decisions that unlock real-world outcomes, shovels in the ground, ships in our ports, and dollars in our economy.
Read Our Work
Explore our policy work and recommendations to strengthen B.C.'s economic resilience, expand productive capacity, and improve Canada's ability to compete in a more volatile world.