This report, prepared by the Province of British Columbia and Western Economic Diversification Canada, answers some common questions about the role of small business in British Columbia through an examination of trends in growth. Key indicators examined in this report include the number of businesses; growth in employment and earnings; contribution to the economy; and industry distribution. Source: BC Ministry of Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation (October 2011)

Visit the British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation website to download a copy of this report.

The British Columbia High Technology Sector reports consist of two companion research publications, undertaken in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, that compare British Columbia’s high tech sector to other Canadian provinces and to the United States.

The Profile of the British Columbia High Technology Sector monitors the high tech sector’s contribution to the provincial economy through indicators such as gross domestic product, employment, business counts and international trade. These reports are complementary to various international studies and permit the reader to position British Columbia’s high tech sector, and that of other Canadian provinces, within a global context. Source: BC Stats (July 2011) 

The Input Indicators of the British Columbia High Technology Sector tracks the evolution of a broad array of indicators that are deemed essential to the development of the high tech sector from the point of view of their impact on high technology firms, including educational attainment, research activities, business investment, taxation and workforce characteristics. Source: BC Stats (June 2011) 

Visit the BC Stats website to download a copy of these reports.

This study assesses the impact of the work done by the four Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs) funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada  in each of the western provinces for the five years from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2008. It includes a detailed analysis of 124 projects representing the services provided by the FEDOs. Source: Ronald Bisson and Associates Inc. (January 2009)

This study was conducted in two phases to assess both outputs and outcomes of the four Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) organizations during the five year period from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2008. WD established the WEI in 1994 to encourage the establishment and growth of women-owned and controlled businesses, encourage self-employment and business development, and promote economic equality between men and women. The WEI is implemented by not-for-profit organizations in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Source: Ference Weicker and Company (October 2008)

Tomorrow’s Gateways: Value Capture Strategies in Key Sectors and Potential for Foreign Direct Investment in Western Canada is a WD commissioned study that investigates Western Canada’s global competitiveness in value-added sectors.  These sectors include Aerospace, Information and Communications Technologies, Electronics, Grain and Food Processing and Trade-related Financial and Business Services.  Based on IBM’s Plant Location International and KPMG’s Competitive Alternatives studies, this report outlines various strategies to ensure growth and sustainability within these value-added sectors.  An analysis of international jurisprudence also highlights potential funding programs and policy measures that could be applied in order to attract Foreign Direct Investments. Source: IE Market Research Corporation (April 2010)

Saskatchewan's State of Trade is a review of Saskatchewan's position in the international marketplace. It looks at the role of international and interprovincial trade in goods and services within the provincial economy. Source: Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (March 2010)

Visit the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership website to download the report.

Free Trade Zones are generally defined as secured areas where goods can be stored or processed without custom duties, excise or inventory taxes. They can be geographically defined or firm-based and are used by many countries to increase value-added production, build on trade and industry strengths, and promote foreign direct investment.

WD commissioned this research report to provide a basic overview of the concept of Free Trade Zones and a comparative analysis of 11 different zones located in United States, Asia, Europe and South America. The report highlights the wide variety of governance, incentives, programs and initiatives that Free Trade Zones can include. In addition, each sample Free Trade Zone is analyzed in terms of six key elements: a general description; infrastructure; business sectors; incentives; business inputs; and investors. Source: Deloitte and Touche LLP (October 2008)

The research study Western Canada and Latin America: Existing and Potential Commercial Relationships assesses Western Canada’s current and potential economic relationships with Latin America and the Caribbean. The study identifies opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment linkages, and identifies business opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean that align with capabilities in Western Canada, particularly related to science and technology. Source: North West International Ltd. (August 2008)

The study Reaching Out: Exploring SME Exporting Opportunities and Challenges, conducted by the Western Centre for Economic Research and based on a survey of nearly 400 western businesses with fewer than 100 employees, examines the exports of small- and medium-sized enterprises to the United States and other international markets.

Exporting provides important opportunities for growth and profit in the small business sector, which is an extremely important component of the western Canadian economy. Funded by WD, the study examines issues on global trade opportunities and offers an in-depth analysis of the role of exports in growth strategies, the marketing chain, perceived barriers to exporting and indirect exporting and the role of foreign suppliers. It also provides specific recommendations for improving Western Canada’s export performance. Source: University of Alberta, Western Centre for Economic Research (April 2008)

For more details on this research visit the University of Alberta’s Western Centre for Economic Research website to download the full report, executive summary and the brochure.

This study assesses the impact of the work done by the four Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs) funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada  in each of the western provinces for the five years from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2008. It includes a detailed analysis of 124 projects representing the services provided by the FEDOs. Source: Ronald Bisson and Associates Inc. (January 2009)

WD commissioned this study to assess the impact of innovation investments achieved through the department’s Western Diversification Program in two main areas: technology adoption and commercialization, and knowledge infrastructure. Source: Ference Weicker and Company (May 2009)

The 2010 SDTC Cleantech Growth and Go-to-Market Report aims to make a contribution to building a globally competitive Canadian clean technology industry by contributing to the research on factors driving technology development and company growth and by facilitating information on the nature and performance of the industry. Source: Sustainable Development Technology Canada (March 2010)

Visit the Sustainable Development Technology Canada website to download a copy of the report.

The pan-western initiative benchmarked provinces against competitor regions to identify lagging economic competencies. The provinces’ economic output potential was forecast to gauge sensitivities of various underlying assumptions in a socioeconomic context.  This analysis has provided the provincial and federal governments insight into long-term economic challenges. Source: Conference Board of Canada (June 2009)

Register with the Conference Board of Canada’s e-Library to download a complimentary copy.

The research study Western Canada and Latin America: Existing and Potential Commercial Relationships assesses Western Canada’s current and potential economic relationships with Latin America and the Caribbean. The study identifies opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment linkages, and identifies business opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean that align with capabilities in Western Canada, particularly related to science and technology. Source: North West International Ltd. (August 2008)

The State of the West is a publication released by the Canada West Foundation, which provides an overview of key demographic and economic trends in Western Canada.  The report uses the latest statistics to present an up-to-date portrait of the demographic and economic trends that have shaped, are shaping, and will continue to shape the four western provinces and their places within Canada.

Visit the Canada West Foundation (Link 2) website to download a copy of State of the West.

• State of the West 2010 (December 2010)
    
• State of the West 2008 (May 2008)