Business certainty, clean power, and the quiet recalibration of climate delivery
At the 2026 BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George (January 20 to 22), the province sent a clear signal – dominant themes were not new policy frameworks or aspirational targets, but business certainty, speed, and delivery.
In a volatile global environment defined by trade risk and geopolitical instability, the government framed predictability and faster decision-making as essential to competitiveness. Natural resources were positioned squarely as the economic engine needed to fund public services, housing, and healthcare. For climate- and conservation-focused organizations, that context matters.
While climate ambition was present, it was largely embedded rather than branded.
Reconciliation Takes Centre Stage
One of the clearest signals from the Forum was the Premier’s unequivocal positioning of reconciliation as fundamental, and non-negotiable. In media remarks, Premier Eby stressed that major projects in British Columbia now move forward through partnership with First Nations, and that the idea projects can advance faster without Indigenous involvement is simply false.
He pointed to projects such as Highland Valley Copper, Mount Milligan, and Artemis Gold as evidence that partnership is no longer exceptional. It is the standard operating model.
At the same time, the Premier sought to emphasize boundaries. Reconciliation, he emphasized, does not threaten private homes or businesses. Proposed amendments to the Declaration Act were framed as clarifying original intent, positioning reconciliation as government-to-government work rather than an open-ended judicial process. The political message was clear. This is a line the government is prepared to defend.
Clean Power as Infrastructure
If there was one climate-related theme that cut across sessions, it was clean electricity.
Transmission expansion and electrification, particularly projects like the North Coast Transmission Line, were consistently framed as transformational. Clean power is being treated less as a climate program and more as foundational infrastructure that supports emissions reduction, Indigenous economic participation, and investment certainty.
Indigenous-led and Indigenous-partnered energy projects were highlighted not as symbolic wins, but as practical examples of reconciliation and climate objectives advancing alongside economic development.
Climate Action, Without the Branding
There were no headline references to CleanBC or new conservation strategies. Instead, climate change showed up in conversations focused on execution, including electrification, renewables, efficiency, and low-emissions competitiveness in global markets.
Permitting reform and environmental assessment harmonization were framed as ways to reduce duplication and delay while maintaining environmental and reconciliation standards. The emphasis was firmly on outcomes, not on launching new frameworks.
Land Use Planning as a Certainty Tool
Land use planning emerged as a quiet but important lever. Ministers consistently pointed to regional land use planning processes as a way to align reconciliation, conservation, and economic activity.
By bringing First Nations, local governments, industry, and other stakeholders to the table early, these processes are being positioned as tools to reduce conflict, shorten timelines, and create durable outcomes for communities, investors, and environmental interests alike.
What It All Means for Climate Engagement
Taken together, the Forum points to a government prioritizing delivery and confidence, with reconciliation firmly established as the foundation rather than a parallel objective.
For climate and conservation advocates, influence is increasingly likely to be found upstream. This includes Indigenous-led and co-developed processes, clean power and transmission planning, land use planning tables, and the design of permitting and assessment systems.
Climate objectives still matter, but they are now expected to advance through levers that support certainty, partnership, and durability. Engagement strategies that align conservation outcomes with reduced risk, predictability, and long-term confidence will be best positioned in British Columbia’s current policy environment.
At Hilltop, we are watching this shift closely, because understanding how government is delivering policy is now just as important as understanding what it says it wants to achieve.