Recently, prominent Silicon Valley tech investor and entrepreneur Garry Tan observed that cities like Vancouver are well positioned to become the next global technology hubs. As the United States tightens restrictions around H-1B visas, many highly skilled workers are starting to look elsewhere. And many are looking to British Columbia, with its strong research institutions, culture of practical innovation, and deep collaboration between government, industry, and academia.
Artificial intelligence is amplifying this opportunity. AI is already changing how we live, work, and learn and creating the conditions for B.C.’s tech sector to grow faster and more broadly than ever before. From health care and defence to retail, AI is reshaping entire sectors while generating new, highly skilled, well-paying jobs. By building on its existing strengths and focusing on responsible adoption, British Columbia can ensure innovation delivers real benefits to people across the province.
We can already see these benefits taking shape in health care. Through B.C.’s Integrated Marketplace program, Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services has been working with health organizations to test digital tools that speed up diagnostic services and improve access to testing for people living with serious illnesses, including cancer. These aren’t abstract pilots. They are practical solutions designed to help patients get answers faster and clinicians make better-informed decisions.
Health-care professionals are also exploring secure ways to share high-quality digital pathology images on a shared platform. That means specialists in different regions can collaborate more easily, learn from one another, and improve diagnostic outcomes for patients across B.C. For rural and remote communities in particular, these kinds of tools can make a meaningful difference in the quality and consistency of care.
Behind the scenes, a provincial cloud solution supports this work, strengthening existing pathology services and laying the groundwork for the safe use of AI and advanced algorithms in health care. This will allow B.C. to leverage more opportunities to apply AI where it delivers clear, measurable benefits for people.
Health care is just one example. British Columbia’s AI sector more broadly is growing at an impressive pace. Since 2023, it has doubled in size and now includes more than 600 companies. Firms like Variational AI, which uses generative AI to accelerate drug discovery, show the calibre of innovation being built right here at home.
B.C. companies are also contributing to Canada’s evolving defence and security landscape. From predictive modelling to advanced sensors and analytics, local innovators are tackling complex, real-world challenges. EarthDaily Analytics, for instance, uses AI to generate high-resolution satellite imagery that can detect geospatial changes in near real time. MarineLabs is applying AI to improve safety in the maritime sector, helping to protect workers, vessels, and coastal communities.
Recognizing the scale of this opportunity, our government launched the Look West strategy to position British Columbia as a central driver of Canada’s future economy. We are doubling funding for trades training to $214 million a year by 2028, expanding technology spaces at post-secondary institutions, supporting micro-credential programs, and investing in research that prepares workers for high-demand roles. These investments ensure British Columbians will benefit from the growing AI economy.
We’re also focused on collaboration. We are working closely with industry leaders, universities, researchers, and technology adopters to help B.C. companies grow, scale, and compete globally. That includes establishing a K–12 advisory committee to explore responsible, age-appropriate exposure to AI skills, supporting businesses as they adopt AI thoughtfully, and partnering with AI technology leaders like Simon Fraser University, TELUS, and Bell to secure federal AI funding that delivers broad public benefit.
AI is not just about technology, it’s about people. It’s about where the jobs of tomorrow will be created, who will have access to them, and how we make sure innovation improves the lives of British Columbians. We have an incredible opportunity in B.C. right now. We can help ensure the next chapter of innovation is built here, powered by clean energy, and open to everyone who wants to be part of it.
Rick Glumac is B.C.’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies.