Core Business Areas
The Ministry is comprised of four core business areas that correspond to the organization's operating divisions. Three areas
link to the Ministry's core activities while the fourth is comprised of Executive and Support Services including the Offices
of the Deputy Minister and Minister.
1. Marketing and Promoting British Columbia.
This core business area is led by the Marketing, Investment and Trade Division. It focuses on implementing the British Columbia
Asia Pacific Initiative including support for the Asia Pacific Trade Council; implementing initiatives for communicating British Columbia's
advantages and opportunities internationally including provincial representation abroad; managing the province's economic
immigration programs; organizing external and inbound trade missions; showcasing British Columbia at national and international
industry events; implementing venture capital programs that provide access to capital for B.C. entrepreneurs and innovative
companies; and providing potential investors with business location information and services. The Marketing, Investment and
Trade Division has a base budget of $12.0 million and 56 full-time equivalents for 2007/08.
2. Enhancing Economic Development.
This core business area is led by the Economic Competitiveness Division. It focuses on identifying and facilitating projects
that support economic growth and diversification throughout the province; undertaking analyses to improve economic competitiveness;
working with investors to facilitate economic development; advancing British Columbia objectives regarding domestic and international
trade issues; managing programs to improve urban and rural local government infrastructure (including the Canada/British Columbia
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund); evaluating options and participating in cross-government projects to improve British Columbia's
tax competitiveness; undertaking labour market planning; working with the Industry Training Authority; and expediting the
credential certification process for highly-skilled immigrants with international qualifications. The Economic Competitiveness
Division has a base budget of $141.2 million (of this amount 96.9 is allocated to ITA) and 54 full-time equivalents for 2007/08.
3. 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat.
This core business area is led by the B.C. Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat. It focuses on showcasing British Columbia
businesses and economic development internationally in Games-related opportunities; creating programs aimed at B.C. businesses
that enable them to be the best prepared to take advantage of related business opportunities; being responsible for oversight
of the province's $600 million dollar investment in the Games; and representing the province as a member partner in organizing
of the Games. The Secretariat has also developed new initiatives to promote and engage Aboriginal businesses in 2010 opportunities.
The B.C. 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat has a base budget of $7.8 million, an operating budget of $92.5 million
and 29 full-time equivalents for 2007/08.
4. Executive and Support Services.
This core business area provides executive leadership, planning, administrative and legislative support to assist the Ministry's
other core business areas to achieve their goals and objectives. It includes the Minister's and Deputy Minister's offices,
information systems, corporate financial, administrative and human resources services and operating grants to the Columbia
Basin Trust pursuant to the Columbia Basin Accord. In addition, the Division provides administrative and financial services
to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The Executive and Support Services Division has a base budget of
$12.6 million and 29 full-time equivalents for 2007/08.
*An overview of the Ministry's Information Resource Management Plan can be found at: http://www.ecdev.gov.bc.ca/serviceplan/irmp.html.
Crown Corporations
The Minister of Economic Development is responsible for the following Crown corporations:
Industry Training Authority http://www.itabc.ca
Columbia Basin Trust http://www.cbt.org/main/default.asp
The Industry Training Authority and the Columbia Basin Trust have their own service plans.
Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society
The Northern Development Fund was established in 1997 by a $7.5 million contribution from the Province of British Columbia
and Alcan. The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society provides grants from the Northern Development Fund for sustainable
economic and social projects in the area most affected by the Kemano project and the creation of the Nechako Reservoir. The
Northern Development Fund is held by the Province of British Columbia. The Ministry budgets $500,000 per year for the Society.
Since 1999, the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society has provided nearly $3.9 million in funding for projects in communities
in the Nechako Region and Kitamaat Village. The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society intends to commit $600,000 per year
in grants over the next three years.