Resource Economics Project (BC) Archives

Resource Economics Project (BC)

Investing causes of social and environmental insecurity in resource-dependent communities

The B.C. Office’s Resource Economics Project is a special research desk staffed by award-winning journalist and researcher Ben Parfitt. This environmental justice initiative looks into the causes of economic and social insecurity in B.C.’s resource-dependent communities. It offers policy solutions aimed at meeting the joint challenges of environmental sustainability, jobs and social justice.

In February 2025, the CCPA closed its BC Office. However, most of the people formerly associated with the BC Office are continuing their work at a new organization—BC Policy Solutions. An amicable separation agreement has been reached between the two organizations, and we encourage people to continue to support the good work of both the CCPA and BC Policy Solutions. The CCPA continues to ensure the voices and concerns of British Columbians are included in its national independent research, analysis and expertise and BC Policy Solutions continues to support the CCPA’s important research work on issues affecting all Canadians.

Policy Note
Provincial Budgets
The Economy

What you need to know about the provincial debt
One of the more memorable promises Premier Clark made in the last election was the one of a debt-free BC (in 20 years or so).…
February 21, 2017
Government Finance
News & Commentary
Tax Policy

BC Budget 2017 a missed opportunity
VICTORIA–Budget 2017 is a missed opportunity to address vital issues facing BC families like persistent poverty, unaffordable child care and the crises in seniors’ care,…
February 21, 2017
Unsplash / Pixabay” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” />

Policy Note
Provincial Budgets
Tax Policy
The Economy

Tax fairness in BC? Hardly
Tax cuts disproportionately benefitted the richest 1% of British Columbians, write @IglikaIvanova & @1alexhemingway: https://t.co/iZbcztdPem pic.twitter.com/BavNnT2WWp — The CCPA–BC (@CCPA_BC) February 16, 2017 As we…
February 16, 2017
CarpathianPrince/ Shutterstock.com” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” />

Policy Note
Provincial Budgets
Tax Policy
The Economy

The problem with tax cuts: The promise doesn’t match the reality
The big news item in yesterday’s BC throne speech was that the Premier’s plan to relieve affordability pressures for families will include tax cuts of some sort.…
February 15, 2017
Climate Change
Policy Note
The Economy

The rise and fall of climate action in BC
It was a decade ago, in the February 13, 2007 Speech from the Throne, when the BC government launched into a frenzy of climate action…
February 13, 2017
. Shell / Flickr” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” />

Climate Change
Environment & Sustainability
Fracking & LNG
Policy Note
Provincial Budgets
Tax Policy
The Economy

BC’s natural gas giveaway: Production soars, revenues plummet
Not long ago, BC received huge annual royalty revenues from its growing natural gas sector. The revenues were often billed as paying for essential public…
February 9, 2017
Education
Employment & Labour
Income & Wages
Policy Note
The Economy

Adult education in BC: A Canadian outlier
Thankfully for their residents, not every province handles adult education like BC where the government has eroded access to high-school level courses for adults while…
February 6, 2017
Energy Policy
Environment & Sustainability
Reports

Extracted Carbon
Re-examining Canada’s contribution to climate change through fossil fuel exports Download 2.8 MB 34 pages This study re-examines Canada’s contribution to global climate change in…
January 25, 2017
Energy Policy
Environment & Sustainability

Infographic: Is Canada exporting its climate problem?
Our latest study shows a dramatic rise in Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel extraction. In 2015 (the most recent year there was data…
January 25, 2017
News Release

Canada responsible for ballooning greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel exports: new study
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE. OTTAWA—The amount of fossil fuel removed from Canadian soil that ends up in the atmosphere as harmful carbon dioxide has…
January 25, 2017
Income & Wealth Inequality
News Release

BC home to Canada’s second highest poverty rate
New report: Province must stop rejecting need for poverty reduction plan READ THE FULL REPORT HERE. VANCOUVER – BC’s poverty rate is virtually unchanged from…
January 12, 2017
Income & Wealth Inequality

Infographic: BC is the only province without a poverty reduction plan
BC’s poverty rate is virtually unchanged from where it was a decade ago – yet the province remains the only one in Canada without a…
January 12, 2017