November 21, 2025
THE LATEST FISCAL UPDATE from the provincial government shows that B.C.’s finances have seen better days. With the release of the first quarterly report, we learned that British Columbia is set to run a deficit of $11.8 billion. That exceeds previous projections by about $700 million.
While the province’s finances are not headed in the right direction, they may not be quite as bad as they seem. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives notes that, with the deficit at 2.6% of B.C.’s total gross domestic product (GDP), provincial deficits from 1982 and 1991 were worse than today’s. And, that 2.6% share of GDP stat in B.C. is one of the lowest in the country.
Either way, running a massive deficit is certainly not good news. That being said, the government must continue to invest in people and follow through on the promises it made during the last election campaign.
Two specific promises were made by Premier David Eby and the BC NDP during last year’s campaign. The government would invest $150 million over three years to double apprentice seats in trades training programs from 26,000 to more than 50,000. Second, the government promised to build B.C.’s first-ever addictions treatment centre for construction workers.
While I understand that seeing a nearly 12-billion-dollar deficit on the government ledger is shocking to some people, this is no time to stop investing in workers, and particularly construction workers. Austerity does not build prosperity, and without construction workers to build badly needed infrastructure, the province’s economic outlook will only continue to sputter.
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced that five major infrastructure projects are being considered for fast-tracking through the federal government’s new Major Projects Office. Two of those five projects are right here in B.C. The construction of both LNG Canada Phase 2 and the Red Chris Mine Expansion is seen as a major economic driver for Canada. And they will require the expertise of a huge number of highly skilled tradespeople.
While we have the capacity to build these projects right now, we will not be able to continue constructing mega infrastructure projects in the future if we do not invest heavily in trades training. B.C. is facing a well-documented skilled construction labour shortage. BuildForce estimates we need 22,700 new construction workers by 2034. Without investment from our governments, we will not be able to recruit and train those workers, and the next wave of mega projects will not be built.
Also, it is proven that investing in apprenticeships creates more prosperity. A 2023 study from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum shows that for every $1 invested in apprenticeships, employers experience a net positive return of $.36. Most people would jump at the chance to make 36% on an investment.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs have thrown a wrench in Canada’s economic outlook, and B.C. is showing some signs of economic weakness, but that is no reason to short-change workers.
Workers drive our economy. No number of executives can build the roads, buildings, bridges, transit, and water and heating systems that we need. No number of politicians or government bureaucrats could build Site C, LNG Canada or any other major project.
Workers are the ones who create prosperity for B.C. and for Canada. I hope Premier David Eby and the BC NDP remember that.
By Al Phillips,
President