CCI Response to the 2026 B.C. Election

Today, Premier David Eby called a provincial election for October 24. British Columbians will choose their next government at a time of economic uncertainty, trade pressures and a growing deficit.

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) has published What B.C.’s Innovators Need to Scale, a policy blueprint developed with technology chief executive officers and founders across the province. It sets out five practical recommendations to help B.C. companies grow, compete globally and keep the value they create in the province.

In response to the election call, CCI Director of B.C. Affairs Kiersten Enemark issued the following statement:

“B.C. has the talent, companies and technologies to address its most pressing challenges—from strengthening health care to protecting communities from wildfires—while generating significant economic benefits for the province. The next government has the opportunity to establish stronger policy conditions that enable companies to scale, compete and deliver their solutions globally while remaining anchored here at home.

“Our recommendations focus on immediate steps the next government can take: remove unnecessary barriers to hiring technology workers, make it easier for innovators to sell to government, reward companies that develop and retain valuable technology in the province, and create opportunities for Canadian solutions in major infrastructure projects. We also recommend a dedicated fund to help communities adopt B.C.-developed wildfire solutions.

"Premier Eby is right that this is a moment to strengthen B.C.'s economy in the face of Trump's tariffs. But standing up to that pressure means more than defending what we have, it means building what comes next. Every party in this election should be asking how they'll help B.C.'s own companies scale and compete globally, not just survive the trade war in front of us.”

Media Contact

Lisa Brody Hoffman
Director of Communications
lhoffman@canadianinnovators.org