Canada is a diverse state with six geographic regions: Quebec, Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Territorial North, and Western Canada. British Columbia (B.C.) is the westernmost province between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains in the continental divide. B.C. is geographically favorable in the Pacific Rim with plenty of resources (Bone, 2018). The region is experiencing rapid growth characterized by modernizing the economy and utilizing modern technology in various enterprises. Initially, BC was a minor player in Canada’s economy but has revolutionized its industries to witness rapid growth, and it prospected to become a core region in the next 25 years.
Far from the political heart of Canada’s economy, B.C. largely relies on natural gas production and export. The geographic distancing of B.C. from major economic hubs has often strained relations of B.C. with Central Canada in the past. The northeast of B.C. is rich in natural gas, particularly in Horn River Basin, the Liard Basin, the Cordova Embayment, and the Montney Basin. The demand for clean energy in the U.S provides a market for 23% of the natural gas produced in B.C (Xu et al., 2018). Great Vancouver is the major city in the region and the third-largest in Canada, connected to the Pacific Ocean with unmatched population and economic growth. Due to rapid growth, B.C. will develop to be a core region marked by significant economic activities, fostering good relations with other core regions of Canada.
British Columbia is Canada’s western province that shares two international borders with the United States, which will become a significant transit and international trade in the future. Most regions of B.C. have access to the Pacific Ocean apart from the northern region that the Alaska Panhandle blocks (Bone, 2018). B.C. cherishes its Pacific coast and close ties with the U.S, states found on the Pacific Rim. Apart from the U.S, the two ports in B.C. is connected to China, South Korea, and Japan, and the exports to the regions have consistently increased. Previously, BC over-relied on the export of coniferous species of wood and bituminous coal. However, over the last 15 years, B.C. has diversified its foreign trade to include copper ores, gas, and sulfate (Xu et al., 2018). Good diplomatic relations due to economic growth will allow the addition of bitumen pipelines, mainly from Alberta oil sands, to increase B.C.’s export list. The population hike in the province, C.N., and C.P. rail lines will open up economic activities in the rest of Canada.
The scenic beauty of the Pacific coast is progressively becoming a major tourist destination, boosting service and knowledge-based industries. B.C. has diverse tourist destinations, including remote islands, a serene coastline, mountains, world-class ski resorts, and museums. Increasing tourism activities is the main small business generator in the province, with over 19 690 businesses (British Columbia, 2022). Additionally, tourism employs over 46 000 people hence boosting the service industry. In 2020, B.C generated a gross domestic product of $2.4 billion, slightly above Forestry and logging. According to British Columbia (2022), due to separation from the rest of Canada, BC developed different sociocultural values and practices bridged by tourism. The geographic advantage of B.C. will boost tourism hence improving job opportunities, tax revenue, and sociocultural relations.
British Columbia is the most deprived yet geographically rich province of Canada. To consolidate its position within Canada, BC has persistently surpassed the national average for economic and population growth. B.C. is connected to the pacific coast hence granting the region a great advantage in international trade. International shipping and tourism will impact the future development of B.C. to become a core region of Canada in 25 years.
References
Tourism Research. (2022, n.d.). Web.
Bone, R. M. (2018). The regional geography of Canada (7th Ed.). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
Xu, Z., Smyth, C. E., Lemprière, T. C., Rampley, G. J., & Kurz, W. A. (2018). Climate change mitigation strategies in the forest sector: biophysical impacts and economic implications in British Columbia, Canada. Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change, 23(2), 257-290. Web.