What's next: Reaching our goals

• In February 2025, B.C. identified 18 priority projects to go through an accelerated approval process. These projects – valued at $20 billion investment – are shovel-ready. They’re expected to create 8,000 jobs, mostly in rural and remote communities.
• B.C. is speeding up permitting, removing barriers and delays, eliminating duplication, and simplifying processes to start building faster.
• Since the 18 priority major projects were announced, Eskay Creek, Mount Milligan and the Highland Valley Copper extension have all been approved by the Province.

List of 18 initial priority projects

• Eskay Creek mine
• Highland Valley Copper mine - extension
• Red Chris mine – Block Cave Underground Expansion
• Mount Milligan mine – 2035 expansion
• Cedar LNG
• NEBC Connector: NorthRiver Midstream
• Enbridge T-North (Aspen Point)
• North Coast Transmission Line
• 10 BC Hydro clean energy projects:
  • Highland Valley Wind
  • K2 Wind
  • m.ah a temEEwuh Solar
  • Mount Mabel Wind
  • Nilhts'i Ecoener Wind
  • Ni Ti Mountain Wind
  • sniwt iʔ k̓ʷul̓mntn Wind
  • Stewart Creek Wind
  • Taylor Wind
  • Yəyus Energy Project

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• Major projects in B.C. delivered faster

• The Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (Bill 31) is now in effect.
• The act allows B.C. to streamline the approval and permitting process for the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL).
• This makes it easier for large natural resource industrial projects to connect to NCTL.
• To speed up construction timelines for the NCTL, a ministerial order was also issued to exempt BC Hydro from the requirements to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project from the BC Utilities Commission.
• These changes bring investment certainty to potential mines, ports, LNG and other projects seeking to connect to NCTL.

Learn more

• Regulatory package continues work of Energy Statutes Amendment Act (Dec. 8, 2025)

• Through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), the federal government committed $67.5 million to B.C. to strengthen our defence and security capabilities. B.C. companies are already benefitting with 5 projects advancing cutting-edge artificial intelligence and aerospace technologies receiving more than $13.8 million.
• On April 13, 2026, the Province took part in the first B.C. Defence Funders Table to better coordinate support for B.C.’s defence industry. It brought together PacifiCan, the Department of National Defence, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Export Development Canada.
• Provincial and federal officials have agreed to continue working together to align workforce planning with shipbuilding and defence needs. Partners include the Department of National Defence, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, Employment and Social Development Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada.

B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF)

This is the province’s main program to support research facilities at public post-secondary institutions in priority sectors. Since it began, the fund has invested more than $1 billion to support 1,800 research projects and 4,400 researchers, which has attracted nearly $1.9 billion in research partnerships.

Cutting-edge computer infrastructure

B.C. is strengthening its position as a national leader in artificial intelligence and quantum computing with more than $30 million in BCKDF investments at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria. This includes renewing SFU’s Cedar National Host Site, one of Canada’s most powerful supercomputers, and UVic’s Arbutus National Host Site, the country's largest research cloud. Together, these systems support advanced AI, quantum and data-intensive research used by researchers across Canada.

Integrated Marketplace

Since fall 2025, Integrated Marketplace has established 3 new testbeds focused on forestry innovation and emergency management, mining and critical minerals, and marine and coastal – bringing the total to 7 across B.C. Testbeds are a collaborative model for companies to test, deploy and scale innovations, while lowering the adoption risk for industry partners.

Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH)

In December 2025, the Province announced $33 million in provincial funding to support research equipment and infrastructure at Canada’s Immuno Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH), a national initiative led by the University of British Columbia. This investment supports rapid start to finish drug development within 100 days helping Canada respond faster to future pandemics and urgent health challenges. It also directly advances Look West goals by strengthening B.C.’s biomanufacturing capacity, supports high-skill jobs, and builds long-term economic resilience in the life sciences sector.

Global spotlight on B.C. innovation

Hosting major international events in 2026 will put B.C.’s innovation economy on the world stage. Web Summit Vancouver in May 2026 and the FIFA World Cup 2026 will draw global investors, thousands of companies, international media, and hundreds of thousands of visitors. These events showcase B.C.’s leadership in Look West sectors of technology, Ai/Quantum, life sciences, clean innovation, agritech, ocean tech and event-driven solutions.

• In December 2025, the province passed regulations under the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act.
  • Wind and solar projects are reviewed through a streamlined “one-window” permitting process led by the BC Energy Regulator.
  • Requirements to complete environmental assessments have been removed because the impacts from land-based wind projects are well known and can be addressed through the permitting process.
  • These changes allow the projects to move ahead faster.
• All 10 BC Hydro Call for Power 2024 projects have 30-year electricity purchase agreements approved by the BC Utilities Commission. Energy deliveries are expected to begin in fall 2028.
  • Highland Valley Wind
  • K2 Wind
  • m.ah a temEEwuh Solar
  • Mount Mabel Wind
  • Nilhts'i Ecoener Wind
  • Ni Ti Mountain Wind
  • sniwt iʔ k̓ʷul̓mntn Wind
  • Stewart Creek Wind
  • Taylor Wind
  • Yəyus Energy Project

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• New wind projects will boost B.C.’s affordable clean-energy supply (Dec. 9, 2024)
• B.C. streamlines permitting for renewable-energy projects (April 30, 2025)

• The Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on the Sale of Goods took effect in December 2025.
• The agreement establishes a national framework to increase interprovincial trade by making it easier to buy and sell non-food goods between provinces and territories.
• It’s based on a simple principle: if a good can be legally sold in one province or territory, it can be sold in another without extra rules or approvals, unless those rules are listed in an annex.
• B.C. played a lead role in proposing, chairing and championing the agreement – signaling our commitment to diversify markets and reduce internal trade barriers under Look West.

Learn more

• Lifting trade barriers, making it easier to buy Canadian (Nov. 19, 2025)
• Domestic Trade with B.C.