KAHLON: Fostering tech and innovation in B.C.

FOSTERING TECH AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT BRITISH COLUMBIA

People are at the core of fostering a world-leading, innovation-driven economy

RAVI KAHLON

Tech is no longer just about the latest iPhone or gadget for your house.

B.C.’s tech sector is advancing at lightning speed to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges – challenges such as fighting climate change in the cleantech sector, protecting public health in the life sciences field and building more efficient and sustainable food systems

with agritech.

Tech is one of our province’s fastest-growing sectors, generating billions of dollars in activity and providing tens of thousands of good jobs for British Columbians. Our government is committed to its growth.

Supporting B.C.’s tech sector is at the heart of the StrongerBC Economic Plan, which lays out six missions to grow a clean and inclusive economy that works for all British Columbians, including fostering innovation in both emerging and traditional industries.

As minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, I’ve heard from tech companies and leaders who know exactly what their biggest issue is. It’s an issue that so many places and so many sectors are facing: A shortage of skilled workers.

Here in B.C. we know our competitive advantage is our people, so that’s why we are working to develop and attract a more diverse, highly skilled labour force.

Through our Future Ready plan, which you will hear more about in the coming months, our government is making a generational commitment to ensure British Columbians have the skills and talents they need to fill the jobs of tomorrow as we continue growing the knowledge-based economy. We’re making education and training more affordable and accessible to match the needs of the economy.

For the tech sector, this means supporting the biggest expansion of tech education in the province’s history, with the creation of 2,000 new tech seats at B.C.’s colleges and universities – on top of the 2,900 tech seats already created since 2017.

With the Innovator Skills Initiative announced last fall, we are helping make the tech sector more inclusive and welcoming, while also addressing the labour shortage by providing dedicated funding in tech education that helps people in under-represented groups gain valuable experience in tech. It is a true win-win for everyone.

In a fast-changing and uncertain world, our ability to be agile, to innovate and to adapt will be crucial to meeting the challenges we face.

B.C.’s cutting-edge sectors – such as Web3, artificial intelligence, video games, visual effects, cleantech, life sciences, biomanufacturing and agritech –demonstrate the province’s greatest economic advantage: The skills, talents and ambitions of our people. Our people support our government’s efforts to build more resilient communities where everyone shares in the province’s economic success.

In an open and growing economy, like we have in B.C., tech is crucial to realizing our vision. It brings out our best, challenging us to compete and win on the global stage. It helps generate the ideas, businesses and wealth that are driving B.C.’s economic recovery – the strongest in Canada.

So, yes, tech will continue to evolve. And so must we. We will do so through our work to attract, develop and nurture the talent we need to succeed in a clean and inclusive way, and to benefit all of B.C. Ravi Kahlon is B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation.

TECH IS ONE OF OUR PROVINCE’S FASTEST-GROWING SECTORS, GENERATING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ACTIVITY AND PROVIDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GOOD JOBS FOR BRITISH COLUMBIANS