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British Columbia

  • Total area: 944,735 km2
  • Capital: Victoria

Demographics (2008)

Population

  • 4.3 million
  • The majority are of British origin, although the population is representative of many other nationalities and cultures.
  • Nearly 60% live in Vancouver and Victoria.
  • Vancouver has North America's second- largest Chinese community.

Population of major urban centres (000s)

  • Vancouver (CMA) 1: 2,116.6
  • Victoria (CMA): 330.1
  • Kelowna (CMA): 162.3
  • Abbotsford (CMA): 159.0
  • Kamloops (CA)2: 92.9

Total labour force (000s)

  • 2,266.3

Employment by industry (000s)

  • Accommodation and Food Services: 172.7
  • Manufacturing: 205.1
  • Construction: 196.9

Economy (2008)

  • Real GDP Growth: 3.5%
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

Total international trade ($CDN billions)

  • Exports: 33.5
  • Imports: 38.9

Trade and Investment (2008)

International export markets (%)

  • United States: 61.1
  • Japan: 14
  • China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: 7

Top three international exports (%)

  • Wood Products: 26.2
  • Natural Gas: 8.9
  • Paper Products: 14.5

Business and Investment Environment

  • B.C. will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
  • Business tax burdens in B.C. are among the lowest in North America, with tax credits and incentives for Research and Development (R&D), manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, film and TV production, new media and international financial activities.
  • National leader in regulatory reform, committed to reducing red tape and creating better regulations that cost less, are more effective, results-based and responsive to business
  • B.C. is home to two of the closest North American ports to Asia - the Port of Prince Rupert and the Port of Vancouver and to one of Canada's busiest airports, Vancouver International Airport, which is the second largest international passenger gateway on North America's West Coast
  • Foreign companies spent $10 billion for business expansion, modernization and new facilities in British Columbia in 2006 and 2007
  • Over $1.5 billion invested in R&D over the past few years making the province a world leader in several technology fields, including advanced energy, and life sciences
  • 6 universities, 3 university colleges, 12 community colleges and 5 provincial technology or technical institutes have shaped a high quality, diverse labour pool
  • Over 107,250 skilled workers immigrated to British Columbia between 2001 and 2006, enriching BC’s international networks, cultural diversity and multi-lingual capabilities

Sectoral Strengths

Information and Communications Technologies

  • The Information and Communication Technologies sector (ICT) in British Columbia is particularly strong in the areas of ICT services, ICT manufacturing and telecommunications services
  • There are approximately 6,000 companies active in the sector across the province generating revenues of approximately $9 billion and employing about 46,000 people
  • A strong software development component has existed since the 1980s, and continues to expand as a result of an experienced and established talent base, continuing reinvestment and a strong network of angel investors and experienced CEO’s with multiple startup successes
  • The largest player in the ICT sector in B.C. is TELUS, one of Canada’s leading telecommunication companies. It has annual revenues of $8.5 billion and 10.5 million customer connections.

Biotechnology and life sciences

  • B.C.’s biopharmaceutical sector is anchored by three of the world’s first profitable biopharmaceutical companies: QLT, Angiotech and Aspreva
  • University of British Columbia has generated 120 spin-off companies, of which 71 are still active and provide employment for approximately 2,000 people
  • Half of these companies are in the life sciences sector -- UBC spinoffs have been hugely influential in developing B.C.’s biotech industry
  • Simon Fraser University has generated 70 spin-off companies, of which 45 are still active
  • B.C. is the 7th largest biotechnology center in North America
  • The Milken Institute’s 2006 University Technology Transfer and Commercialization Index lists the University of British Columbia as the highest-ranking Canadian institution, and eighth overall in North America

Advanced Manufacturing

  • Demonstrates technology leadership in: industrial machinery, process control technologies and automation systems; power technologies such as fuel cell systems; industrial electrical equipment; transportation equipment such as aerospace and automotive components.
  • Home to leading international firms: 3M Touch Systems, Honeywell, Ballard Power Systems, Toyota, Eastman Kodak and ASCO Aerospace.
  • Strong R&D capability, including: PMC Wireless, Sierra Wireless, Alcatel, Honeywell and Raytheon

Sustainable Technologies

  • B.C. is a world leader in sustainable technologies with approximately 1,300 companies employing 18,000 people, and generating revenues of $1.9 billion.
  • The province has significant capacity for research and innovation and is home to 15 research centres of excellence and other clean technology research institutes.
  • B.C. is home to a number of world leading sustainable technology companies, many of which have been spun out of B.C.'s universities. Examples of world leaders are Carmanah Technologies (a leading manufacturer of energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems), Xantrex Technology (a world leader in advanced power electronics) and Power Measurement (provides energy management solutions to control the cost, quality and reliability of energy).

Advanced Energy

  • B.C. has approximately 89 companies currently active in the advanced energy sector, employing about 3,000 people and generating revenues of approximately $750 million. The sector is very export oriented with 95% of company sales originating outside of the province.
  • Key areas of research and development concentration include: solutions for smart urban transport, sustainable urban practices, and generation of remote power.
  • B.C. is home of the world's leading firms when it comes to developing new solutions for motors, engines and alternative fuels.
  • Led by fuel cell innovator Ballard Power Systems, B.C. is home to what is arguably the largest hydrogen and fuel cell sector in the world. B.C. represents 75% of Canadian fuel cell and hydrogen based R&D expenditures.

New Media

  • British Columbia’s New Media sector is among the world’s top performing clusters, comprised of over 1000 companies, employing approximately 15,000 people, with revenues of over $2 billion a year.
  • The sector is particularly strong in interactive design, game development, e-learning, mobile content and digital film/animation
  • In addition to having the greatest number of interactive games companies in Canada, B.C. also has the third largest film and television industry in North America
  • Vancouver is a hub of cutting-edge video game development and home to leading companies such as Electronic Arts, Radical Entertainment (now part of Vivendi Games) and Relic Entertainment (now part of THQ Inc)

Other key sectors

  • Agri-food and fishproducts
  • Value-added wood products
  • Mining
  • Transportation
  • Contact centres and business process operations
  • Tourism

Online Resources

  1. CMA: Census Metropolitan Area (return to source paragraph)
  2. CA: Census Agglomeration (return to source paragraph)