BC's Look West Plan Unlocks $88 Billion in Major Projects and Tens of Thousands of New Jobs

The British Columbia government has announced a major update to its Look West economic strategy, with $88 billion in proposed major project investments estimated to create tens of thousands of jobs across the province over the next three years.

In a release from the Office of the Premier on April 29, 2026, the Province announced it is adding 17 new major projects to its priority list — nearly doubling the initial count — as part of a broader push to diversify BC's economy and reduce its reliance on a single trading partner.

"At a time when countries around the world are looking for responsibly developed resources and stable trading partners, this is British Columbia's moment," said Premier David Eby. "Through our Look West plan, we're leveraging our strengths here to get major projects built, create good jobs, and invest in skills training so people can step into these opportunities and earn bigger paycheques."

What Is Look West?

Launched in November 2025, Look West is a targeted provincial strategy designed to accelerate major project approvals, bolster BC's economic security in the face of U.S. tariff uncertainty, and create skilled-trade career opportunities for British Columbians.

The strategy includes a goal to secure $200 billion in investment by 2035 for major projects across the province, along with a commitment of $241 million over three years to double trades training funding and permanently expand BC's trades training system.

Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon noted that BC is already home to 40% of the federal government's priority major projects — and the province intends to push for even more.

"The global uncertainty from U.S. tariffs and the war in Iran are having real impacts on people and businesses, but we're not backing down or waiting," Kahlon said.

Key Projects Moving Forward

Mining

The Blackwater Gold and Silver Mine Phase 2 expansion — a $1.44-billion investment — is expected to create 1,500 construction jobs and bring total permanent employment at the site to 1,200 positions. Over the mine's multi-decade life, it could generate an estimated $2 billion in mineral tax revenue for the province.



Clean Energy

BC has passed new regulations making the BC Energy Regulator the primary authority for renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and major transmission infrastructure. Ten wind and solar projects from BC Hydro's 2024 call for power — representing approximately $6 billion in private-sector investment — are expected to create roughly 2,000 jobs annually during construction and generate nearly 5,000 GWh per year, boosting BC's electricity supply by 8%.

One standout project is the sniwt iʔ k͡ʷuĺmntn Wind Project

, a 94-megawatt wind farm majority-owned by the Upper Nicola Band, located between Merritt and Kelowna. Targeting construction in spring 2027, it will produce enough clean electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes annually.

Also advancing is the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL), a major piece of infrastructure designed to power new mines, energy projects, and communities in northwestern BC. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

Natural Gas and LNG

Cedar LNG — a $4.7-billion project and the largest Indigenous majority-owned infrastructure project in Canada — is well underway and expected to be complete by 2028, creating up to 500 construction and 100 long-term operational jobs.

The federal government recently approved the Sunrise Expansion, a $4-billion expansion of Enbridge's pipeline network, which will allow more natural gas to reach international markets from BC while creating 2,500 construction jobs.

An additional $50 billion in final investment decisions is anticipated this year or early next, including Phase 2 of LNG Canada — which would represent the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history — as well as the Ksi Lisims LNG and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission projects, developed in partnership with the Nisga'a Nation.

Trades Training and Reconciliation

The province is also investing heavily in workforce development. Over 20,000 seats have already been created through StrongerBC Future Ready Action Plan initiatives, and the government is targeting 30,000 apprenticeship registrations by 2030. Projects like Cedar LNG reflect a growing emphasis on Indigenous partnership and economic reconciliation.

The Bigger Picture

The Look West update comes as British Columbia navigates a complex global environment marked by U.S. trade tensions, volatile energy markets, and supply chain disruptions. The province's strategy is explicitly designed to reduce Canada's vulnerability to any single trading relationship by building out export capacity to Pacific markets in Asia and beyond.

With $88 billion in projects on track, a $200 billion investment target on the horizon, and construction cranes expected to rise from the Lower Mainland to the northwest corner of the province, BC's government is making a clear bet: that the path to long-term prosperity runs west.