Geoff Russ is a writer and columnist based in West Vancouver.Canadian jobs are at stake. Donald Trump's aggressive threat of tariffs has already led to the first round of layoffs.As with any economic crisis, blue-collar Canadians have been the first to take the hit and may be the last to feel the recovery. Widespread job insecurity not only presents a severe threat to families by adding unwanted anxiety and uncertainty, but contributes to a lack of confidence in society and the ability of an economy to deliver a good future.Therefore, in this climate, it is essential that industries that have proven themselves capable of creating jobs and delivering good paycheques are prioritized. In British Columbia, perhaps no other industries have provided more employment and put more money into the hands of workers than those in the resource sector.Entire communities are centred around these industries, and these jobs have created stability and the happiness that stems from that.This is no time to ponder about which regulations can be fitted into the bulging tub of red tape that already exists. People need governments to work for them and make these projects possible.Trump's tariff rhetoric has 40% of Canadians worried about losing their jobs, and private sector unions are sounding the alarm. Canada must pivot away from hand-wringing about getting the regulatory mix right, and instead shift towards maximizing job retention and job creation to protect incomes and stability.In the past decade in BC, the LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink projects have directly or indirectly employed 65,000 people, from pipeline workers to office administrators. The biggest misconception about the resource industry is that the jobs generated by it are out in the bush, when in reality, it keeps the money coming in for people in cities like Vancouver and Victoria as well. These projects also have a communal benefit, with $4 billion spent by LNG Canada that directly benefited rural and indigenous communities. Projects like HaiSea Marine in Kitimat on BC's northern coast are a by-product.A joint venture between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan ULC, HaiSea Marine is set to unveil a fleet of tugboats to work in Kitimat's future LNG industry, adding more permanent jobs with pay that will remain in the community.In the Lower Mainland, the construction of the Trans Mountain expansion had a dramatic effect on the city of Hope, located at the confluence of the Fraser Valley and the Fraser Canyon. As workers arrived to work on the TMX project, the city's many motels and other available rental properties were packed full, while local businesses saw their revenue increase.The TMX workers involved themselves in the community, using their tools and expertise in the recovery efforts after fires and floods. While Kitimat and Hope benefited from separate projects, what they shared was how they drove resurgence in those places.Unfortunately, this has not been shared by all BC communities. The province's forestry industry has suffered greatly, shedding more than 30,000 jobs since 1996, which hit places like Vancouver Island especially hard. There is tremendous frustration about the increase in old-growth logging deferrals and other roadblocks to keeping the industry going and men and women employed. The pain felt by the downturn in the forestry industry, once the jewel in the province's economic crown, is common across the BC mainland too.Expediting new proposed projects wherever they are feasible and safe should be top of the list for the provincial government to help sustain current levels of overall employment. There is great domestic and international competition for labour in sectors like oil and gas and too many delays and bureaucratic impediments will drive jobs elsewhere.Streamlining the permitting and licensing process would go a long way towards making BC more attractive to investors, helping to secure long-term employment.Canada is going to be in a tough situation with the Trump presidency, no matter what arrangements Ottawa can secure. There is no negating the urgent need to push ahead with fortifying our economy and ensuring a steady stream of opportunities are available to workers in BC.There is no need to frame it from a politically left or right perspective; it is about people, first and foremost.Geoff Russ is a writer and columnist based in West Vancouver.
