Rustad unveils bold plan to ignite BC’s tech future

BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on Sunday announced “a transformative plan to reignite the province’s tech sector and position BC as a global leader in innovation.”

He said that under the NDP, BC’s once-thriving tech industry faces critical challenges—rising housing costs, high taxes, lack of access to capital, and outdated procurement practices—stifling the growth of one of the province’s most vital industries.

Rustad’s plan, titled “Igniting BC’s Tech Future,” focuses on creating the right conditions to attract and retain talent, boost local innovation, and make BC the top destination for tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors.

“The NDP’s failures on housing, combined with skyrocketing taxes, have driven tech talent away from BC,” said Rustad. “It’s no wonder tech companies are struggling to recruit. We need to make it easier for skilled workers to live here and want to stay.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

  1. End the housing shortage by Getting BC Building, easing the affordability crisis so that tech professionals—especially junior employees—can live and thrive in BC.
  2. Make BC the destination of choice for tech professionals by addressing the unaffordability that drives workers elsewhere and create an environment where innovation is rewarded, not punished.
  3. Invest in home-grown talent by directing more post-secondary funding to tech-related programs, giving students the skills to succeed and enhancing BC’s research and development capacity.

Rustad criticized the NDP for hampering tech innovation by failing to unlock access to start-up capital and continuing outdated government procurement policies that favor large multinational corporations over local innovators.

“BC’s entrepreneurs are being forced to go elsewhere for capital, while the NDP rewards large companies instead of giving our local innovators a fair shot,” Rustad said.

The Conservative Party of BC will:

  1. Boost access to capital for early-stage firms by working with the private sector to close the funding gap, ensuring promising BC tech companies can scale up without having to relocate.
  2. Modernize procurement practices to give BC-based innovators the opportunity to compete for government contracts, boosting the local tech sector and making government services more efficient.
  3. Foster cross-sector collaboration by accelerating the adoption of BC-developed tech across key industries such as forestry, healthcare, and education.

While AI presents enormous economic potential, Rustad warned that the NDP’s lack of foresight risks leaving BC behind.

“AI is reshaping the world, but the NDP has no plan to make BC a leader in this space,” said Rustad. “We will develop a BC AI Strategy that fosters innovation while ensuring responsible and ethical development.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

  1. Develop a BC AI Strategy to drive AI growth, attract investment, and equip start-ups with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving field.
  2. Support local AI model training with a focus on privacy and responsible data use, ensuring that BC remains a competitive player in the AI industry.
  3. Ensure ethical AI governance by implementing clear regulations focused on transparency, accountability, and human oversight.

“The NDP has failed to support our tech sector,” Rustad said. “Our plan will remove barriers, promote innovation, and help BC become a global leader in technology. The future of BC’s tech industry is bright, but only with the right leadership to unlock its full potential.”

The Conservative Party of BC’s Igniting BC’s Tech Future plan will ensure that tech entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors are empowered to thrive, building a more prosperous, innovative future for all British Columbians, he added.