Maple Ridge -Pitt Meadows News| May 24th, 2025
 

Maple Ridge's Momentum Economic Growth and Success Expo saw three B.C. cabinet ministers talking about financial challenges and prosperity.

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey and the JEDI (Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation) Minister Diana Gibson joined Education Minister Lisa Beare – who is also the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA, at the event put on by the City of Maple Ridge, Work BC, the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce and School District 42.

They were in a panel discussion moderated by Business in Vancouver editor Hayley Woodin Hastings, who posed a lot of questions that business owners and regular British Columbians have about the state of economy and unprecedented change.

The host asked about U.S. tariffs, and the provincial government's response

Bailey talked about the "Team Canada Approach," and B.C.'s role in that, as well as B.C.'s actions, including taking U.S. liquor off store shelves.

"We're a monopoly here in our liquor purchase, so it gives us a lot of purchasing power. That was quite a strong response, and we did see some lawmakers from Kentucky support democrats in challenging the tariffs," she said.

"Now more than ever we need to strengthen our economy," said Bailey, noting government identified 18 major projects that could be accelerated to create jobs and growth.

"We need to be looking at ways of unsticking things that have been stuck, and ensuring we are continuing to build out the economy," she added. "The best thing to do when you're under threat like this is ensure that people keep working."

Gibson was asked about the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Canada.

"The businesses I've met with that have a lot of reliance on US. exports have really said their major pivot is into the Canadian economy," said the JEDI minister. "And when trade north-south is easy, trade east-west seems a little bit farther. But as trade north-south becomes harder, our east-west trade starts to look a lot easier, and those distances become smaller."

She said B.C. has been championing more trade between provinces, with less red tape.

"It's not the time to be protectionist and cautious, it's a time to look to open and collaborate with each other as provinces," she said. "The appetite really is there."

She noted the B.C. to Alberta direct-to-consumer wine sales saw a sevenfold increase since January.

"That's the kind of success we can see in terms of unlocking economic activity for B.C. business through inter-provincial trade, and we're going to continue to push the other provinces, and show ambition at that table.

Bailey also talked about reducing the provincial deficit.

"This is tough work, it's not fun work, but it's really important, because we want to make sure that we're not spending our children's future," said the finance minister.

The focus is on core services, including education, healthcare and housing "and ensuring those are protected while we do the work to bring government spending into the envelope we need to live in, all at the same time while growing the economy."

The moderator also posed a question about Alberta's talk about leaving Canada.

"A federation is a challenge," answered Bailey. "Despite some of the separatist language that's being shared, there is still a sentiment of collaboration in many fields. So I remain hopeful about it."

"We do need to make sure that the federal government remembers the west," she added, saying Alberta is not alone in its frustration, and B.C. does not get the attention its economy deserves.

"While I don't share the level of frustration, I do share some frustration," she said.

Beare called these "incredibly challenging times," where the world changes with the stroke of a pen.

"But we are also seeing the country come together in a way that we have not seen in generations – the Elbows Up movement, the camaraderie, the collaboration across all provinces and within our own communities is significant," said Beare.

"I get to go to classrooms, and sit on the ground in circle time with kids, so I get the best job in the world," she added. "And I get to come out incredibly hopeful, because I see the next generation coming, and that's something to be very excited about."

There was a panel wit  Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy, Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald, and representatives from Fraser Health, Scotiabank, and Coast Mountain Bus Company. There were booths with employers and post-secondary institutions, who met in student sessions in the afternoon, and adults in the evening. "