Wednesday January 14, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The 23rd Annual BC Natural Resources Forum will take place in Prince George, January 20 to 22.
Being held at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, the Forum will host a large contingent of Indigenous, federal, provincial, and local government leaders, as well as continuing strong interest, support and attendance by representatives from resource developers and service and supply sectors that are the foundation of our resource economy.
It comes at a significant time for the BC and national economy — a pivot point where most if not all industrial and manufacturing sectors are looking to diversify their production as well as their exports.
In particular, critical minerals and softwood lumber are a top priority for the BC NDP government in their economic shift driven within the Look West trade development and diversification plan.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been undertaking trade missions for much of the past year, currently in China and then to Qatar for a day, and to Switzerland next week for the World Economic Forum.
This week, BC’s trade mission to India highlights an interest in the third-largest economy as a trading partner for BC.
Substantive program:
The BC Natural Resources Forum 2026 Program includes:
Workshops on January 20:
- Renewable Energy 101
- Consultation to Agreement – Navigating Benefit Sharing Agreements in B.C.
- Proven Communication Strategies – Moving Natural Resource Projects Forward
On January 21, BC’s Official Opposition (BC Conservatives) will present A Lens on BC’s Economic Potential and later in the day there will be a keynote address by Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Spencer Chandra Herbert.
Wednesday’s lineup also includes:
- Seizing BC’s Global Resource Advantage – Momentum for Growth
- Insights from the C-Suite: What it Takes to Build Investment in BC
- Setting the Precedent: Inside the Landmark Stonlasec8 – Enbridge Equity Partnership
- Fireside Chat – Energy Regulation – Nation-Building Projects
- Fireside Chat: Powering Possibilities: How BC Hydro is Energizing B.C.’s Economy
- Building B.C.’s Resource Future: Canada’s Moment to Lead
- Beyond the First Cargo: Canada and B.C.’s Competitive Edge as a Global Gas and LNG Producer
- Building our Shared Future Together – A Transformational Approach to Project Development
Breakfast and more:
On the third day of the conference, the January 22 program starts with the BC Resource Ministers’ Breakfast to discuss priorities, collaboration, and opportunities shaping BC’s resource sector with these panelists, moderated by Keivan Hirji, Director, External Relations & Communications for Canada, Newmont.
- Honourable Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, Government of B.C.
- Honourable Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, Government of B.C.
- Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Government of B.C.
- Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, Government of B.C.
- Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Government of B.C.
- Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C.
Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon will have freshly returned from a January 12 to 17 trade mission to India as undertaken with Premier David Eby.
Forests Minister Parmar says the panel will provide insight into government priorities, policy developments, and collaborative approaches that support sustainable growth and innovation in BC’s resource industries.
Other topics on January 22:
- Critical Minerals and Mining: Securing B.C.’s Economic Future
- Forestry as a Major Project: Progress on the Path to 45 Million
- Fireside Chat with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada
- Building Talent and Innovation for B.C.’s Resource Future: Post-Secondary Leadership in Action
- Protecting Linear Infrastructure from Natural Hazards: Building Partnerships for Resilience
===== RELATED:
- Eby & Kahlon undertaking trade diversification mission to India (January 6, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: MINING & CRITICAL MINERALS | ECONOMY & BUSINESS | TRADE DIVERSIFICATION | 43rd BC PARLIAMENT