Here are great facts about our economy

• We’re optimistic overall
  British Columbians are the most optimistic about their province’s future of any of the western provinces. More than 46 per cent of us believe BC will be better off in five years, a jump from 40.8 per cent in 2001. SourceNULL West Foundation, “Economic Expectations,” April 2004
• We’re optimistic in business
  BC’s small and mid-sized businesses lead Canada in optimism, ahead of the national index for the third quarter in a row – 114.8 points – and at its highest level since Canadian Federation of Business (CFIB) began regular quarterly reporting of business expectations. Source: CFIB, Quarterly Business Barometer, March 2004
• We’re earning more
  BC’s after-tax family income grew 1.7 per cent in 2002 – that’s more than five times the national increase of 0.3 per cent. This follows a 4.7 per cent increase in 2001, which was the largest increase in after-tax income for BC families in 20 years. Source: Stats Canada, BC Stats
• We’re moving here
  BC saw a net inflow of almost 2,100 people from the rest of Canada in 2003 – the first time in six years that more people moved to BC from other provinces than moved out. Source: BC Stats, Stats Canada
• We’re exporting
  Growth in BC exports will be the third highest of the ten provinces with a 10 per cent increase in 2004 – outpacing the national average of 6.7 per cent. Source: Export Development Canada, Provincial Outlook, April 2004
• We’re buying homes
  BC’s home sales topped $3 billion for a second month in a row in April, a 50 per cent increase in dollar volume and a 29.9 per cent rise in unit sales, compared to April 2003. Year-to-date, the value of home sales in BC is up 38.5 per cent from the first four months of 2003, and the number of units sold is up 21.3 per cent. Source: BC Real Estate Association
• We’re gaining investment
  Investment in non-residential building construction was up 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2004, over the fourth quarter of 2003 – the largest increase of all provinces. Source: Stats Canada
• We’re building buildings
  The value of BC building permits increase 32.7 per cent in the first three months of 2004, compared with the same period in 2003. This percentage change is five times stronger than the national average of 6.2 per cent, and is the third highest percentage increase of the ten provinces. Source: Stats Canada, May 7, 2004
• We’re opening businesses
  We’ll see a 10 per cent increase in business incorporations in 2004. Last year, business incorporations increased by 9.3 per cent, the strongest increase in a decade. Source: Credit Union Central, Weekly Economic Briefing.
• We’re buying
  Retail sales in BC were up seven per cent in March compared with March 2003, the second strongest gain in Canada and significantly stronger than the national average increase of 4.1 per cent. Source: Stats Canada, May 25, 2004
• We’re getting out of debt
  Two major debt rating agencies — Standard and Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investor Services — have upgraded BC’s debt rating outlook. This lowers our provincial debt. Source: BC Ministry of Finance, March 24, 2004