The first-ever Fraser Valley Economic Summit landed a big name for its inaugural event when B.C. Premier David Eby took to the stage for a special address to attendees on Tuesday (May 21).
The FVES, held at UFV鈥檚 Evered Hall, brought together business, community and government leaders to look ahead into the future for the region and also celebrate significant success stories.
Eby led the event鈥檚 government address acknowledging the bet he lost to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over the result of the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers series. He admitted that you might see him wearing an Oilers jersey in the future.
He added that he realizes affordability in the province is challenging and he believes that the NDP government is most capable to tackle that problem.
鈥淭he focus, of course, is on supporting people with the costs of daily life addressing issues related to housing, safe communities and strong public services,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he debate that we鈥檙e having in the legislature is an important one for you to know. It鈥檚 a debate about what do we do in this moment in time, where we see rising inflation, high central bank interest rates that are directed out and intended to reduce economic activity and have a financial impact on families.鈥�
Eby said comments from the two major opposition parties are that the dramatic reduction of provincial government expenditures is necessary to move forward. But he stated that his party believes that more government support is needed.
B.C. Premier arrives at the Fraser Valley Economic Summit at . Opens by stating he is in mourning after the loss
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
鈥淪o the debate is a debate around the budget 鈥� what do we do right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淒o we dial back expenditures, whether those are capital expenditures, schools, hospitals, roads, transit, stuff like that 鈥� or services, teachers, nurses, doctors, and other public sector workers that people depend on? Our decision is that now is the time we need more support.鈥�
He said that reducing government spending would lead to cancelled projects and less key infrastructure investments. Eby said that it鈥檚 not just government spending, but the elimination of the employer health tax for businesses under $100 million and medical services plans premiums that will help businesses out.
Eby was then joined on stage by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 CEO Alex Mitchell for additional questions. She asked Eby about Highway 1 and the connectivity of transit in the region.
鈥淔or the Fraser Valley and south of the Fraser, the work on transit is considerable,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have the Surrey-91原创 SkyTrain, we have an additional $300 million for BC Transit to expand connections and also the expansion of Highway 1.鈥�
He stated that Highway 1 expansion will improve transit because there will be bus on shoulder availability and that people will be able to move more efficiently. He admitted that the 2021 flood set things back a bit, but the resources have already been dedicated. He added that it can be a juggling act to get these types of big projects done, as they can either go ahead with them or wait for federal funding 鈥� which may or may not come and if it does it may take time.
Eby was asked about industrial land shortages and said that his government鈥檚 focus has been agri/industrial zones where they work with local government to identify specific areas where processing uses at an industrial scale can be permitted. He stated that he doesn鈥檛 want to see farmers priced out of the Fraser Valley and that the region鈥檚 food production is very important.
He closed by speaking about the Fraser Valley鈥檚 importance to the province and also to not rely on old infrastructure and ideas.
鈥淲e need to make sure that we鈥檙e getting things done out here in a way that is responsible and structured but also effective, to make sure that we take advantage of this moment that we鈥檙e in,鈥� he said.
