Whereas rural and resource-based communities continue to be a significant economic driver in both rural and urban areas across British Columbia; And whereas communities throughout British Columbia are experiencing job losses and heightened economic challenges arising from trade uncertainties, and provincial legislation and policies that disproportionately affect resource industries such as forestry, mining, energy, and aquaculture; And whereas these communities are integral to the provincial economy, contributing substantially to British Columbias GDP, employment, and export revenues, while sustaining the economic vitality of urban centres through interconnected supply chains, workforce migration, and complementary industries; And whereas current provincial decision-making processes frequently lack adequate representation and consultation with rural and resource-based communities, leading to policies that may inadvertently jeopardize the sustainability, cohesiveness and resilience of these regions: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to formally recognize the critical economic contributions of rural and resource-based communities and to ensure their meaningful inclusion in the development of legislation, regulations, and economic strategies that impact resource industries by: - Prioritizing economically viable access to resources; - Supporting innovation within each sector to foster sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness; - Actively engaging with each resource sector and its stakeholders to comprehensively understand their unique challenges and opportunities; - Taking decisive action to amend policies and legislation based on the unique challenges and opportunities identified; and - Removing restrictive legislation on resource sector industries.
Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth The Province of British Columbia recognizes the critical economic contributions of rural and resource-based communities and is committed to ensuring their perspectives are reflected in provincial policy and decision-making. Close to one million British Columbians live in rural, remote, or First Nations communities, and 86 percent of municipalities and electoral areas are considered rural. These areas cover roughly 98 percent-percent of British Columbias landmass and contribute over 84 billion annually to the economy and supporting key sectors such as forestry, mining, energy, agriculture, and seafood. To strengthen rural representation, the Province adopted the Rural Initiative in September 2025. This initiative provides a policy framework to help government assess the impact of provincial policies on rural areas and identify the potential opportunities for rural areas to help shape provincial policy. The framework includes a Draft Guidance document and a suite of tools and supports, including a standardized rural definition matrix, a Rural Impact Assessment workbook, a data guide, and case studies. These resources will be used to complement and enhance engagement practices, assist ministries in assessing policy impacts on rural areas, incorporate rural factors into policy and program design, improve service accessibility, and build stronger relationships with rural partners. The Rural Initiative team in the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth is responsible for the framework and for strengthening the capability of the BC Public Service to make effective use of the tools and supports. Government will continue to work collaboratively with communities and industry stakeholders to address unique challenges and opportunities, support innovation, and advance sustainable growth in resource sectors.