A partnership between the Province of British Columbia and Vancouver International Airport is aimed at reducing pollution in aviation while promoting technological innovation and creating new jobs in the sector.
“Vancouver’s airport is one of our province’s biggest employers and economic drivers of growth and revenue,” said Premier David Eby. “They’re also leaders in sustainability and innovation.”
Indeed, YVR is Canada’s second-largest international airport by passenger volume and employs more than 26,000 people on Sea Island alone (its workforce is over 126,000 province-wide).
Through a signed memorandum of understanding, B.C. and YVR will collaborate with partners, communities, and stakeholders across aviation and aerospace over a three-year period.
The initiative builds on a prior partnership with the Province from 2022 to deliver an Integrated Marketplace Initiative through the StrongerBC Economic Plan.
This new MOU will see the Province and airport work toward multiple goals, including mitigating pollution in the field.
The partnership also emphasizes the importance of cultivating technology and talent, targeting an increase in clean-tech investment and promotion of made-in-B.C. technology—and the “good jobs” that tend to accompany these things.
Among other goals, the province intends to “promote workforce development growth to meet demand for skilled workers in aerospace and aviation.”
“By working together on shared priorities, like promoting made-in-B.C. clean tech and expanding trade diversification while reducing pollution, we can maximize benefits for all British Columbians, while strengthening our province’s economic future,” Eby believes.
As a longtime “economic engine and jobs creator for British Columbia,” YVR is well-positioned to generate impact through the collaboration, according to Tamara Vrooman, chief executive of the airport.
“This partnership recognizes the importance of aviation to the diversification of the provincial economy including zero-carbon innovation, technology, international trade and investment, and skills training,” Vrooman stated.
“Together with the Government of British Columbia, we are advancing important work and creating value for all British Columbians by strengthening connections between businesses, communities and sustainable economic opportunities,” the CEO continued.
It’s all a part of “creating a dynamic marketplace for sustainable made-in-B.C. technologies,” according to Brenda Bailey, who serves as Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.
To kick off the partnership with YVR, Bailey says the Province is investing in three projects initially: $250,000 for a sustainable aviation fuel opportunities study; $375,000 to support the creation of a net-zero airports action plan; and $250,000 for a study to explore opportunities to enhance the movement of people and goods between YVR, Vancouver Island and beyond, to facilitate multi-modal access to new markets and increase the resiliency of supply chains.
“The partnership between the Province and YVR will lay the groundwork for common sense solutions,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, “and builds on the work our government is doing to improve goods and people movement across British Columbia.”
