British Columbia Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson has announced plans to achieve 3.2% economic growth by reviving the forestry sector and capitalizing on LNG opportunities. This projection exceeds the NDP's projections for the province and the Bank of Canada's national forecasts.
What happened
Doerkson says the forestry sector, which is currently in peril, has been a significant contributor to the province's economy in the past. He believes that with the existing infrastructure, it is possible to "absolutely get back to business." The Conservatives' growth projections aim to yield $2.6 billion in new revenue by 2029-2030, which will help bring down the deficit that has reached record levels under the current government.
The gas industry, particularly LNG, is also seen as a growth opportunity that hasn't been capitalized on by the NDP. Doerkson notes that the LNG sector represents "a bigger opportunity in British Columbia than we've had in a decade." He emphasizes that this industry speaks in trillions of dollars, and what the province needs to run is billions of dollars, highlighting the massive opportunity in the north to help the province.
The NDP has accused Doerkson of using unrealistic growth projections in the costed platform. However, Doerkson remains optimistic about the potential for economic growth through the forestry and LNG sectors.
