Economic development

Ensuring a diverse and resilient local economy is one element of the community’s vision. The OCP is a mechanism for creating and enhancing economic opportunity through land use policies that encourage new investment, quality jobs, and increasing tax revenue from the business sector.

The longterm economic vibrancy of the community also requires that the District is a 'competitive' community from a business perspective, and a place that continues to attract people and investment capital.

Our objective for economic development is to become an increasingly successful, economically viable and dynamic community where existing and potential employers and employees want to be. This may be achieved through OCP policies that support the attributes of a desirable community,which in turn serve to attract and maintain business.

2030 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TARGET: 36,000 total jobs in the District by 2030

Maintaining the attributes of a competitive community

District policies influence the attributes that make the broader community attractive and competitive for new business start-ups and relocations, business expansions, new land and building development projects, new entrepreneurs, and well-educated highly-skilled people.

The competitiveness of the community includes many non-economic factors, such as the diversity of housing, the quality of community amenities and services, and the “sense of place” and vibrancy of the community. 

Reaching our objective for a competitive community

Our objective is to attract investment by maintaining the attributes of a successful and competitive community. 

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

  1. Establish housing mix policies that support a balanced and diverse supply of housing
  2. Create and maintain safe, beautiful, and inclusive neighbourhoods and centres
  3. Encourage appropriate and compatible economic activity in all areas, including but not limited to: a) Home-based businesses in residential areas b) Office, retail and live-work in and adjacent to centres c) Industrial and light industrial in employment lands d) Education, research and other in school and university sites e) Tourism and leisure in commercial, mixed-use and recreation areas
  4. Advocate for improvements that enable goods and people to move easily through the District
  5. Support initiatives to provide goods access via roads and transit to the international airports
  6. Advocate for expansion of post-secondary educational institutions and encourage integration opportunities between education, research and business innovation
  7. Support and maintain the availability of outstanding recreation, parks, and cultural facilities and events
  8. Maintain high quality infrastructure to support the business community
  9. Encourage community services that support and welcome entrepreneurial migrants whose new ideas, knowledge and connections help drive new economic activity
  10. Promote major job growth or intensification in locations and at densities that support travel by walking, cycling and transit

Providing competitive local government services

Local governments can influence public and private investment decisions and economic vibrancy through their policies and practices. Burdensome regulations, uncompetitive taxes and charges, and lengthy or unpredictable decision-making can all undermine the climate for investment, and hence, economic activity.

The District’s objective is to create a supportive position that helps generate economic activity and benefits for the whole community.

Reaching our objective for competitive services

Our objective is to attract investment by maintaining the attributes of a successful and competitive community.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

  1. Support the creation of a business-friendly environment
  2. Work to reduce permit approval times and to simplify and streamline regulations
  3. Periodically review fees and charges and taxes for competitiveness
  4. Periodically review and assess regulations for relevance and ease of use
  5. Direct all municipal departments to be customer-oriented in providing services
  6. Promote the District as an excellent place to do business
  7. Devise and implement specific economic development programs as and where necessary
  8. Seek partnerships with North Shore municipalities, First Nations governments, regional, provincial and federal authorities, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations and others to achieve mutual economic development objectives