Exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025

The Government of British Columbia, headquartered in Victoria, is the provincial governing authority for the westernmost province of Canada. As a democratically elected body, it is responsible for delivering a wide spectrum of public services, facilitating economic development, and upholding environmental and social policy in one of Canada’s most dynamic regions.

Core Functions and Public Services

The Government of British Columbia (GovBC) operates through over 20 ministries and numerous Crown corporations to manage provincial responsibilities. Its core service areas include:

• Healthcare – Funding and administering public health services through the BC Ministry of Health and five regional health authorities.
• Education – Overseeing K–12 and post-secondary education, including public schools, universities, and technical institutes.
• Transportation and Infrastructure – Building and maintaining highways, public transit, and major infrastructure through the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
• Environment and Climate Action – Promoting clean energy, resource stewardship, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Business, Trade, and Investment – Providing support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and expanding export capacity through platforms like BritishColumbia.ca and Trade and Invest BC.

The provincial government also manages taxation, land use, housing, forestry, mining, and Indigenous relations.

Economic Role and Investment Promotion

British Columbia is a strategic gateway to the Asia-Pacific region and has positioned itself as a global leader in sustainability, clean technology, and innovation-driven industries. The government facilitates:

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – Through Trade and Invest BC, which supports international investors in entering B.C.’s priority sectors such as agrifoods, clean energy, digital media, life sciences, and natural resources.
• Export Development – Offering assistance to over 4,000 exporters annually in reaching international markets.
• Small Business Support – With programs like Small Business BC, providing funding, tools, and market access to over 500,000 small businesses—the highest per capita in Canada.
• Infrastructure Investment – Budgeting over CAD 30 billion in infrastructure projects from 2023–2026.

British Columbia’s GDP surpassed CAD 360 billion in 2023, with diversified contributions from technology, natural resources, services, and agriculture.

Environmental and Social Leadership

The Government of British Columbia is globally recognized for its environmental governance:

• Carbon Pricing – Introduced the first broad-based carbon tax in North America (2008).
• CleanBC Plan – A CAD 679 million initiative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2007 levels by 2030.
• Protected Areas – Over 14% of the province is designated as protected or conserved land.

Socially, the province leads in:

• Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples – Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) through provincial law.
• Affordable Housing – Committing over CAD 7 billion from 2018 to 2028 for 114,000 affordable homes.
• Public Health Access – Free or subsidized healthcare for 5.5 million residents under the Medical Services Plan (MSP).

Organizational Structure and Workforce

The government is led by the Premier of British Columbia and structured into ministries managed by elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Key statistics include:

• Provincial Employees: Over 35,000 public service workers
• Annual Budget: Approx. CAD 81 billion (2024–2025 fiscal year)
• Revenue Sources: Personal and corporate income tax, sales tax, natural resource royalties, federal transfers

Crown corporations such as BC Hydro, ICBC, and BC Housing operate at arm’s length under government mandates.

Digital and Citizen Services

The province emphasizes modern, digital-first governance:

• BC Services Card – An integrated ID for healthcare and government access.
• Online Portals – Including MyGovBC, WorkBC, and BCBid for services, employment, and procurement.
• Open Data Initiative – Providing over 3,000 public datasets for transparency, research, and innovation.

The government’s digital transformation supports accessibility and efficiency in public services.

International Engagement

British Columbia actively promotes global partnerships through:

• 12 International Trade and Investment Offices in Asia, Europe, and North America.
• Trade Missions and Delegations – Facilitating B2B and G2G engagements for strategic sectors.
• Membership in Cascadia Innovation Corridor – A cross-border alliance with Washington State for tech and clean economy collaboration.

Major Achievements

• Ranked #1 in Canada for ease of doing business (World Bank Canada subnational report).
• Reduced GHG emissions per capita by 18% from 2007 to 2022.
• Achieved AAA credit rating from Moody’s and S&P for fiscal stability.
• Recognized as Canada’s most diverse economy, with over 44% of population being first or second-generation immigrants.

The Government of British Columbia continues to shape a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready province—serving citizens, businesses, and global partners with transparency and purpose.