• Helping businesses adapt, grow, create jobs through new grants

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-08-28 18:15:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, National, Economy, Labour, Industry, Indigenous]

  The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have launched a $2.7 million funding initiative under Phase 2 of the Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund to support northern B.C. businesses and First Nations development corporations responding to global tariffs. Administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), the funding is split into two programs opening for applications on September 2, 2026: the Business Diversification and Sustainability (BDS) program, which provides grants of up to $200,000 covering up to 75% of project costs for small and medium-sized businesses totaling $1.8 million, and the First Nations Business Development Capacity Building program, which provides up to $75,000 per applicant covering up to 90% of eligible costs totaling $900,000. The investment is supported by federal funding through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement as part of a broader $5-million provincial response to tariffs.

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• Taking the next step to modernize B.C. forest management

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-08-27 15:00:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Industry, Indigenous]

  The Government of British Columbia, co-led by the Ministry of Forests under Minister Ravi Parmar and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship under Minister Randene Neill, is introducing a Working Forest Landscape Model featuring a three-zone framework. The proposed model divides public forests into a Working-Forest Zone for commercial timber production aiming to stabilize an annual harvest of 45 million cubic metres, a Multiple-Use Zone focused on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and a Conservation and Protection Zone to support the provincial commitment to protect 30% of B.C.'s land base by 2030. In fall 2026, the Province will announce select candidate areas identified through engagement with First Nations, industry, local governments, and environmental groups to begin testing the zonation approach.

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