Core Business Areas

The government's overarching aim, as outlined in its Strategic Plan 2003/04 – 2005/06, is for British Columbia to have the best performing economy and the highest quality of life in North America. A key goal of government is to establish a strong and vibrant provincial economy, which includes:

• A thriving private sector economy that creates high-paying job opportunities;
• The fastest growing technology industry in Canada;
• Greater equity and equality for British Columbia in Canada; and
• Responsible, accountable management of public resources and tax dollars.

In order to support this goal, the Ministry has five new core business areas. These are:

1. Improving British Columbia's Investment Climate and Competitiveness.

2. Enhancing Economic Development Throughout British Columbia.

3. Marketing and Promoting British Columbia.

4. British Columbia Olympic Games Secretariat, Sport and Culture

5. Executive and Support Services.

Core Business Area 1:

Improving British Columbia's Investment Climate and Competitiveness.

The government is committed to enhancing British Columbia's competitiveness as a means to create a climate conducive to investment and a prosperous economy. The Ministry has made significant strides towards creating a thriving competitive climate including eliminating business subsidies, reviewing all fees and licences, and spearheading the government's ongoing efforts to eliminate one-third of regulations within three years. The main strategies over the next three fiscal years for delivering programs that create a positive trade and investment climate are:

• Continue to oversee the government-wide deregulation initiative to cut red tape to reduce the regulatory burden by one-third within three years, beginning in 2001;
• Manage tax policy programs to assist small and medium-sized businesses throughout the province to gain access to equity capital for business startup and expansion;
• Manage significant cross-government projects to enhance the province's competitiveness; and
• Evaluate options for improving British Columbia's tax competitiveness.

Core Business Area 2:

Enhancing Economic Development Throughout British Columbia.

The government is committed to developing and implementing strategies to revitalize the economy and create greater economic diversification. The main strategies of the core business for Enhancing Economic Development Throughout British Columbia are:

• Drive the government-wide implementation of the Heartlands Economic Strategy;
• Remove barriers to key projects and initiatives by establishing a project fast-track process to give key projects priority treatment;
• Work with local entrepreneurs and communities to identify and expedite new business investment in British Columbia's Heartlands;
• Manage British Columbia/Canada Infrastructure program to improve urban and rural local government infrastructure; and manage the Western Economic Partnership Agreement to support economic development in British Columbia;
• Implement the Tourism Development Strategy and develop an All-Seasons Resort Strategy for British Columbia; and
• Promote and market small business start-up and growth resources available to entrepreneurs across British Columbia through the Canada/British Columbia Business Service Society and its network of 75 community and regional partners.

Core Business Area 3:

Marketing and Promoting British Columbia.

British Columbia has dramatic topography, abundant natural resources, a large number of small businesses and a burgeoning high-tech sector. For national and international investors, or for those wanting to visit the province, British Columbia has many opportunities. The main strategies for the core business of Marketing and Promoting British Columbia are:

• Implement marketing initiatives to provide the framework for communicating British Columbia's advantages and opportunities;
• Showcasing British Columbia at important national and international trade and industry events;
• Planning and managing trade missions that provide the Premier and Ministers with opportunities to profile British Columbia in key priority markets;
• Identifying marketing opportunities for British Columbia businesses and assisting the private-sector to create networks, alliances and partnerships to leverage those opportunities; and
• Lead the marketing of British Columbia as film and television production location.

Core Business Area 4:

British Columbia Olympic Games Secretariat, Sport and Culture.

The British Columbia Olympic Games Secretariat represents the Province of British Columbia as a member partner in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. The secretariat plays a key role in maintaining positive intra and inter-governmental relations, helping the Vancouver Organizing Committee in its efforts to build community support around the province. Also, the secretariat supports culture and sports in the province. In addition, the secretariat provides transfers in support of cultural industries, amateur sports groups and sport and recreation projects. The primary strategies for this core business are:

• Maximize the potential economic benefits of hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games;
• Facilitate the provision of regional and provincial level training and services to athletes;
• Develop and implement components of the Active Sports, Active Communities, and Organized Sport Action plans; and
• Develop and administer policies that improve the competitiveness of provincial cultural industries, and encourage the development of a sustainable arts and culture sector.

Core Business Area 5:

Executive and Support Services.

The primary role of Executive and Support Services is to:

• Provide financial, human resources, records management and information systems support to the Ministry;
• Provide for the offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Small Business and Economic Development and the Deputy Minister responsible for Deregulation; and
• Provide contributions to the British Columbia Pavilion Corporation, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, and bad debt expenses.