BC United calls on Eby to stand up for B.C. jobs

BC United MLAs said on Tuesday that they are very concerned about the potential hostile takeover targeting Teck Resources, a major Canadian critical minerals producer.

They said it threatens jobs and livelihoods across British Columbia, and want to know what Premier David Eby is doing to stand up for British Columbians and prevent the potential loss of this major employer and economic contributor.

Opposition House Leader Todd Stone, Critic for Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said: “Teck is a homegrown B.C. success story, supporting nearly 9,000 direct employees in B.C. alone — yet the Premier has been completely silent on this very real threat that could impact those workers and B.C.’s economy, and have other detrimental spin-off effects.”

He added: “In budget estimates today, we posed direct questions to Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey, and we were disappointed to learn the NDP has not had recent conversations with the federal government on this emerging issue. David Eby should be putting pressure on Ottawa to use the tools at its disposal to protect B.C. jobs — but right now, we don’t have much faith that he’s actually going to bat for these workers.”

BC United said that Teck Resources anchors many head office jobs in Vancouver, and bolsters hundreds of small businesses in the supply chain throughout British Columbia. The province needs more companies like Teck Resources that are highly committed to top ESG, climate and sustainable resource development performance, along with a demonstrated positive track record with Indigenous peoples. It is a cornerstone for many communities, putting food on the table for thousands of families and making important contributions to charitable endeavours. B.C. should be growing head office jobs in Vancouver, anchored by companies like Teck Resources, rather than potentially losing these jobs to other jurisdictions.

Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka, Critic for Mines, said: “The loss of Teck’s head office in Vancouver would have a ripple effect on many junior mining and tech operations throughout the city, and major impacts for workers in the Interior and in my region of the Kootenays.”

He added: “Just as he demonstrated a lack of leadership on the softwood lumber file, the Premier continues to show that he doesn’t know how to create or maintain a business-friendly environment that attracts and retains investment. British Columbia ought to be a national leader in mining and critical minerals, but while a critical minerals strategy has been adopted in Canada and in other provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, the NDP continue to drag their feet. The mining industry needs a champion — but judging from his silence and inaction, right now it’s not David Eby.”