A vision for the future

Canadians and British Columbians have an opportunity to become global leaders in building a 21st-century economy focused on sustainable economic development. Programs to promote energy conservation and efficiency mean that we will use less energy, save money, and create more jobs than we would through development of oil and gas.

• Oil found offshore would not be needed if Canada improved fuel efficiency by 15 per cent over the course of the offshore-oil project.
• According to the World Energy Congress (Survey of Energy Resources, 1996), the coast of British Columbia is considered to have the greatest wind-power potential in the world.
• Wind power is becoming one of the world's fastest-growing industries, worth more than $200 billion worldwide over the coming decade.

Studies show that investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy yield more jobs than investments in fossil-fuel production.

If we want to move toward an innovative 21st-century economy, we must invest in emerging energy technologies that hold great promise now and into the future. Rather than support sunset industries, we should invest in energy projects that:

• are cost-effective;
• are renewable and sustainable; and
• do not put other industries at risk.

The B.C. government should put its effort into better economic-development options.

Many promising projects are possible in the next few years that will create more local, long-term jobs, that do not risk current coastal industries like fishing, and that will be sustainable economically and environmentally should they receive government support.

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