CCI's 2027 Pre-Budget Recommendations for the British Columbia Government

British Columbia’s investments in critical minerals, energy and infrastructure can create opportunities that extend well beyond construction. The technologies used to build and operate these projects can also help homegrown companies secure customers, develop intellectual property and compete in global markets.

Capturing that value requires deliberate policy choices. Canadian technology companies need opportunities to participate in major project supply chains and turn successful trials into government contracts. Tax incentives should support commercialization and give companies more reasons to grow and remain headquartered in B.C.

The province can also draw on local expertise to address challenges facing its communities. Helping local governments and First Nations purchase proven Canadian wildfire technologies would support prevention and suppression while creating a stronger domestic market for those solutions. Removing unnecessary licensing barriers for technology professionals would help B.C. attract and retain the talent these businesses need.

Budget 2027 offers an opportunity to connect these priorities through a shared focus on growing companies and retaining more of the economic value they create. The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is putting forward five recommendations:

1. Scale Canadian Tech Companies by Expanding Strategic Procurement to Include Innovation.
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2. Implement Tax Incentives to Help Innovators Scale and Stay in British Columbia.
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3. Accelerate Economic Growth by Embedding Innovation into Government-Funded Infrastructure and Resource Projects.
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4. Attract Global Talent Through EGBC Licensing Reform.
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5. Contain Costs and Protect Communities by Establishing a Wildfire Innovation Fund.

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About the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI)

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is Canada’s business council for the 21st century economy. We are a collective of over 175 of Canada’s fastest-growing and most ambitious companies, and the founders, CEOs, and executives behind them, working together to improve the business conditions that help more homegrown companies scale, compete globally, and drive long-term prosperity. Learn more at canadianinnovators.org.