The Business Council of BC (BCBC) released an update to summarize the results of its Stay With B.C. campaign this week.
The report shares stories from more than 3,000 British Columbians on mounting economic pressures prompting them to consider leaving the province.
According to the BCBC, the Stay With B.C. campaign was launched in December as a response to Alberta’s “Alberta is Calling” advertising campaign, asking British Columbians: If Alberta is calling, what would it take to make you stay?
Some of the top concerns respondents stated included:
- Housing and affordability (36 per cent)
- Taxes and regulation (28 per cent)
- Jobs and wages (23 per cent)
- Public services (including health care and transportation) (18 per cent)
One respondent from Prince George stated “We need a strong sensible government that understands you cannot spend you way to prosperity. You cannot continue to raise sax and supress wages while driving out private investment with outrageous fees and red tape.”
“The number of responses we received was well beyond anything we expected,” said BCBC Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs Braden McMillan.
“It was heartbreaking to read so many personal and deeply moving stories from people across the province. But it was also a powerful reminder of how much work is needed to get the economy working for British Columbians again. People are struggling, and they need all the help they can get.”
The full campaign update can be found here.
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