Supporting small businesses through the trade war

Small and medium-sized businesses in British Columbia are facing financial turbulence as they absorb the direct impact of U.S. tariffs, leaving trade-exposed businesses with lost customers and real financial damage. Small businesses employ most BC workers. Protecting them means protecting your job and your community's main street. We’re supporting small businesses, protecting local job creators, and helping young people gain essential work experience.

We have a plan to

• Provide direct financial relief: Introduce a $500 million Small Business Tariff & Wildfire Relief Fund offering interest-free loans of up to $1 million for up to 72 months to help small businesses recover from recent wildfires or Donald Trump's unfair tariffs.
• Help to find new markets: Deliver $6 million annually in enhanced market research grants, one-on-one advice, and expanded Export Navigator support to help small businesses diversify supply chains to buy Canadian and sell their products to non-U.S. markets.

Helping young people and local job creators through the Youth Hiring Tax Credit

Small businesses make our communities vibrant, sponsor local teams and events, and give young people their very first jobs. However, young people often face significant barriers breaking into employment and gaining essential work experience. To help young people gain valuable work experience and support local job creators, we are making it easier for small businesses to hire young workers.

We have a plan to

• Offer a youth hiring incentive: Introduce a Youth Hiring Tax Credit providing a $5,000 refundable tax credit to small businesses that hire a young person (aged 18-30) for their first full-time, 12-month job.
• Support entry into the labour market: Help thousands of youth and recent graduates enter the workforce and gain critical skills during the trade war.

Built in B.C. & Canada buying rules

Donald Trump’s trade war and attacks on B.C. workers and businesses threaten our economy and public infrastructure projects. To drive economic growth and protect local jobs, we must leverage our historic investments in schools, hospitals, and transportation and become our own best customer.

We have a plan to

• Bring in new “Built in B.C. and Canada” procurement rules for ministries, Crown agencies, and health authorities to prioritize domestic suppliers and products wherever viable.
• Set minimum requirements for B.C. and Canadian-made materials—including wood, steel, aluminum, and cement—on public infrastructure projects, requiring domestic sourcing when suppliers are competitive and on time.
• Apply penalties to U.S.-made goods and materials counting against procurement requirements, while encouraging and supporting municipalities to source Canadian products for local infrastructure.
• Direct BC Hydro to build the North Coast Transmission Line using Canadian steel, requiring 70% of Phase 1 towers and 100% of Phase 2 towers to use Canadian steel.
• Support the prime minister's Buy Canadian policy for federal procurements and federally funded infrastructure projects.

Doubling critical mineral exports

Donald Trump’s trade war is wreaking havoc on B.C. and Canadian families, causing economic upheaval and job losses. Expanding Prince Rupert’s port capacity and unlocking critical minerals will keep our economy growing, build supply chain independence from the U.S., and create good-paying jobs for British Columbians.

We have a plan to

• Double B.C.’s production and export of critical minerals within five years by providing concierge support, accelerating approvals, fast-tracking the North Coast Transmission Line, and supporting First Nations participation.
• Collaborate with the Prince Rupert Port Authority and the Federal Government to expand new intermodal infrastructure and streamline goods movement.

Delivering major projects and good jobs

B.C. is an economic leader, but global economic instability and U.S. trade threats mean we must keep moving forward with major nation-building investments. To secure our future and expand opportunities, we are accelerating major infrastructure, energy, and resource projects that create high-paying jobs and fund vital public services like healthcare and education.

We have a plan to

• Fast-track major clean energy, critical mineral, and transportation infrastructure projects through streamlined permitting and concierge support for key investments.
• Expand economic partnerships with First Nations to advance sustainable resource development, ensuring local communities share directly in project benefits and long-term prosperity.
• Prioritize domestic procurement and Canadian-made materials across public projects to build supply chain resilience and keep economic benefits in B.C.

Building the next generation of BC Ferries in B.C.

For too long, BC Ferries has sent major ferry contracts overseas, sending public dollars and good jobs out of our province. By building B.C.’s next generation of ferries right here at home, we can support local shipyards, strengthen our maritime sector, and ensure public investments create opportunities for British Columbians. Committing to domestic shipbuilding of BC ferries can unlock up to $1.5 billion in GDP and support over 10,000 person-years of work.

We have a plan to

• Expand BC’s shipbuilding industry by building a new B.C. shipyard in partnership with industry and labour, with up to $250 million through the Strategic Investment Fund to leverage private sector investments and federal funding.
• Strike a task force with shipyards, marine employers, labour, BC Ferries, and the federal government to develop a Made-in-BC Shipbuilding Strategy.
• Invite Coastal communities to express interest in identifying sites for shipbuilding expansion.
• Require by law that B.C.’s next generation of ferries needs to be built in Canada, creating local jobs and supporting marine workers.

Protecting jobs and workers in the forestry sector

We’re standing up for B.C. forestry workers who have been hit hard by Trump’s tariffs, protecting and creating good jobs here in B.C., and working with the federal government to make sure B.C. forestry workers get the supports they need.

We have a plan to

• Support more mills to retrofit to manufacture value-added products, lower their production costs, or expand to non-US markets with a new, dedicated Forestry Competitiveness stream within the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund.
• Provide direct support to mills at risk of closing, workers and impacted communities through a new $120M Forestry Jobs Protection Fund.
• Strike a Forestry Tariff-Response Task Force with the forestry sector to cut across ministries and take action together to keep mills impacted by Trump’s tariffs open.
• Strengthen how we manage our forests to ensure consistent access to fibre and streamline the permitting process.
• Find new markets for BC wood products to reduce our reliance on the US.

Boosting the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund

President Trump’s unfair trade war is an attack on B.C. workers, businesses, and communities, particularly in our forest sector. To build a stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant economy, we must invest in local manufacturing to help B.C. businesses find new customers, expand production, and protect local jobs.

We have a plan to

• Make the BC Manufacturing Jobs program permanent, with annual funding of $60 million to help businesses invest in new equipment, develop new products, and create good jobs.
• Create a dedicated Forestry Competitiveness stream for tariff-impacted mills that need to retrofit to manufacture value-added products, lower their production costs, or expand to new, non-US markets.