Monday November 17, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Premier David Eby has announced Look West today in Victoria.
It’s an economic plan to fulfill on his promise of making BC the economic engine of Canada with a lens of creating jobs and economic prosperity for British Columbia and Canada.
Eby was joined at the 11:30 am press conference at the BC Legislature by Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth.
MLA Darlene Rotchford (Esquimalt-Colwood) was the emcee for today’s announcement.
Urgency for a new direction:
Strengthening economic security in the face of economic threats from the United states is where all this reorientation and restructuring began.
Today Eby said that having one person in the White House calling the shots is something that “has to stop”.
This morning after participating in a First Ministers Meeting with the Prime Minister, Eby told media that he supports the federal budget (which is heading to a vote in the House of Commons later today).
BC sees several projects included in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major projects list.
Look West summary:
The Look West economic plan is summarized by the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth as:
- Sets a 10-year vision to strengthen B.C. and Canada’s economy and grow key industries
- Aims to secure $200 billion in private sector investment in major projects over the next decade
- Doubles skilled trades training funding by 2028-29
Faster project development, skills training:
Look West is a strategic plan to deliver major projects faster, expand skills training and grow key sectors to strengthen BC’s economy.
“British Columbia can get big things done – which is why our province is vastly over-represented in the list of major projects Ottawa is fast-tracking,” said Premier David Eby.
“This plan sets big goals as we make B.C. the economic powerhouse of Canada to create great jobs and drive prosperity in every corner of the province.”
10-year plan:
Look West rises to the challenges brought on by U.S. tariffs.
The strategy sets a 10-year vision to strengthen B.C.’s economy, including continuing work to speed up permitting and diversify key sectors, so B.C.’s economy is less reliant on the United States.
Delivering nation-building projects:
Look West positions B.C. to work collaboratively with the Government of Canada as it invests billions of dollars to secure Canada’s sovereignty. B.C. is ready to seize opportunities to deliver more nation-building projects, from national defence to shovel-ready infrastructure.
The plan ensures people and businesses in British Columbia are first in line to seize the unprecedented jobs and economic opportunities these projects will bring to communities.
Focusing on core priorities:
Look West will help people in British Columbia succeed and is focused on three core priorities.
- Building on B.C.’s strengths: Training up and growing B.C.’s skilled workforce to deliver major projects and create new jobs and opportunities for people.
- Generating growth through major projects: Speeding up permitting and delivering big projects that generate good jobs and economic growth quicker.
- Moving B.C. forward: Delivering sector action plans to diversify and balance B.C.’s economy, from critical minerals and tech and life sciences to defence-related industries, marine and aerospace.
“In BC we know what it takes to succeed. We’ve outperformed economically time and time again,” said Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon.
“This strategy leverages B.C.’s strengths and ongoing work to be the economic engine of Canada, lead on nation-building major projects, create good jobs and skills-training opportunities for people, and grow key sectors that are driving economic growth into the future.”
Growing targeted sectors:
Look West aims to grow the sectors that will make our economy most resilient going forward with detailed sector-by-sector action plans.
- Target sectors include marine, aerospace, construction, innovation, life sciences, AI and quantum computing, agriculture and food processing, trade and logistics infrastructure, and the critical minerals and energy the world needs.
- It positions B.C. to secure additional federal investments in major projects, infrastructure and national defence.
Strengthening workforce to deliver major projects:
- Look West focuses on strengthening B.C.’s workforce by investing in skills training, including doubling trades training funding by 2028-29. This investment helps ensure B.C. has the skilled workers needed to deliver major projects quicker and is necessary to achieve the target of securing $200 billion in private-sector investment over the next decade.
- This approach directly responds to feedback from industry and investors who say the availability of a skilled workforce is a critical factor when making investment decisions.
Advancing initial actions:
As initial actions in the strategy, the Province will:
- invest more than $10 million through the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund to increase production and offer new product lines at Mangrove Lithium, COTA Aviation, Galcon Precast, Grosso Precast and CCI Circuits, with more direct business support to be announced in the weeks and months ahead;
- contribute $33 million to Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub at University of British Columbia to help innovative businesses develop vaccines and improve readiness for future pandemics, supporting a domestic supply chain in BC;
- set up a K-12 advisory committee to explore the integration of AI platforms and skills acquisitions into the school systems to encourage early exposure and skills development;
- enhance the collaboration between the Quantum Algorithms Institute and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation to advance post-quantum readiness and further support quantum preparedness throughout BC and Canada’s business ecosystems,
B.C. says it has the resources Canada and the world needs, the infrastructure and coastal ports to deliver them to market, and the skilled people and regulatory framework to complete major projects.
All of that is intended to drive gross domestic product (GDP) growth and create jobs.
===== RELATED:
- BC Premier Eby comments on first ministers meeting ahead of federal budget vote (November 17, 2025)
- Trades training boost to support BC’s growing economy (November 16, 2025)
- Carney’s second set of nation-building major projects (November 14, 2025)
- Federal Budget 2025: investment for economic development & productivity (November 4, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: 45th PARLIAMENT of CANADA | CANADA-NATIONAL | FEDERAL NDP | BUDGET 2025 | COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION