Ministry Overview and Core Business Areas

The ministry is the primary provincial agency responsible for initiatives and programs dedicated to creating a strong provincial economy in British Columbia. The ministry has six core business areas.

Improving British Columbia's Investment Climate and Competitiveness: This core business area is led primarily by the Economic Development Division and focuses on undertaking analyses of economic conditions, managing policies and programs to assist small and medium-sized businesses, evaluating options for improving British Columbia's tax competitiveness, establishing BC positions and policies regarding domestic and international trade issues, and participating in cross-government projects to improve the province's tax competitiveness. Approx. $5,567,000 and 21 Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) are dedicated to this core business area.

Marketing and Promoting British Columbia: This core business area is led primarily by the Marketing and Investment Division and focuses on implementing initiatives for communicating British Columbia's advantages and opportunities, managing trade missions, showcasing British Columbia at industry events, providing potential investors with business location information and services and leading the marketing of British Columbia as a film and television production location. Approx. $3,826,000 and 18 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

Enhancing Economic Development throughout British Columbia: This core business area is led primarily by the Economic Development Division and focuses on identifying projects that support economic growth and diversification throughout the province, implementing the provincial Tourism Strategy, managing programs to improve urban and rural local government infrastructure, administering the Western Economic Partnership Agreement and working with investors to facilitate economic development such as a fast-track process for key projects. Approx. $236,762,000 and 54 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

BC Olympic Games Secretariat, Sport and Culture: This core business area is led primarily by the BC Olympic Games Secretariat and focuses on representing the province as a member partner in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, implementing 2010 related strategies, administering the Physical Fitness and Amateur Sports Fund and the Olympic Arts Fund, supporting the BC Arts Council and providing transfers in support of cultural industries, amateur sport groups and sport and recreation projects. Approx. $145,902,000 million and 34 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

Securities, Regulatory Reform and Special Projects: This core business area is led by the Securities, Regulatory Reform and Special Projects Office and focuses on government-wide priority initiatives including securities reform, regulatory reform and special projects. Approx. $400,000 and 8 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

Executive and Support Services: This core business area consists of Corporate Services and the Minister's Office and focuses on providing planning and legislative support to assist core business areas achieve their goals and objectives. Approx. $127,981,000 (including $95,000,000 in transfers to the BC Pavilion Corporation and the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project and a $24,000,000 transfer to Tourism BC) and 22 FTEs are dedicated to this area.