B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell is calling on the private sector to help his government open up Asia-Pacific markets as it tries to resolve continuing trade disputes with the U.S.

During the recent Going Global Conference held in Vancouver, Campbell beat the drum on his government's previously announced Asia-Pacific Trade Council and Competition Council, which are expected to take shape in the coming weeks.

The premier said the Asia-Pacific Council is designed to help expand and maintain strong trade ties with countries including China, India, Japan and Korea, while the Competition Council will include at least 20 sectors within the provincial economy.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Council is expected to be permanent, depending on its success, while the Competition Council's future will be decided after it reports to the government within 12 to 18 months.

Bayne Stanley, Business Edge
Peter Armstrong of the Great Canadian Rail Tour Co. says industry has been lucky.

"The point is, it's a big world out there, so the Asia-Pacific Trade Council will be people that are actually actively involved in Asia-Pacific trade today," Campbell told reporters.

"They'll be talking about markets that they'll be pursuing that have the highest likelihood for our success."

In the comment that drew the loudest, most spontaneous applause from the audience, Campbell said B.C. wants landing rights for flights from Asia.

The Chinese government recently allowed Canada to apply for approved-destination status, which would allow a larger segment of its population to travel here. Although many perceive approval as a done deal, tourism industry officials say China has only allowed Canada to apply, and approval is not expected for at least another year.

Peter Armstrong, president and CEO of Great Canadian Rail Tour Co., more commonly known by its Rocky Mountaineer Vacations subsidiary brand, told delegates that Canada must take advantage of approved destination status from China to become a world tourism leader.

"Opportunities are there for us all, but our industry must be prepared to take another leap forward in its level of creativity, commitment, development and sophistication," said Armstrong.

He said B.C.'s tourism industry has been lucky in the past because it was able to trade on the province's "good looks" - in other words, beautiful scenery. But the industry still faces many challenges because most tourists have to travel a long way to come here.

"Our business is truly a global one and it faces fierce competition to get people from every corner of the globe to select British Columbia for their vacation," said Armstrong.

Great Canadian has agreed to provide Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee (VANOC) with the firm's fleet of 77 passenger rail cars to transport people between Vancouver and Whistler during the 2010 Winter Games.

"We do not need to benefit from those 17 days directly, but we sure plan on benefitting for years before and after," said Armstrong. "Tourism Vancouver believes there could be $5.8 billion dollars of incremental spending by tourists just to Vancouver if we as an industry seize the opportunity."

He noted B.C.'s tourism industry faces a major shortage of skilled workers as the Olympics approach, saying tourism can only fill its human-resources needs by raiding other industries.

"In our company our (vice-president of human resources) is from the high-tech industry, the VP marketing is from the consumer-products industry and our VP sales is formerly from the airline business," he said. "We need people who are creative to fill the new demands of our industry that will give us the edge over our competitors."

Meanwhile, Campbell is expected to appoint two co-chairs of the Competition Council this week. He hinted that the council will advise the government on how to cut and tweak regulations further.

Noting that his government has eliminated 37 per cent of provincial regulations, 143,000 in all, Campbell said the Competition Council will be asked to examine the effect of local, municipal, regional, federal and provincial governments on B.C.'s economy. But he also wants the council to probe the private sector and see how it is holding itself back.

"It's not going to be a council that sits there and says: 'This is what government should do,' " said Campbell.

He added B.C. must reach out to overseas markets while the U.S. pulls itself further inward - a comment considered by many at the conference as a shot at the U.S. for its stance on mad-cow disease and softwood- lumber tariffs.

The U.S. has closed the border to Canadian cattle even though scientists say the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy is extremely low.

The Americans are also withholding $4.2 billion in softwood import duties from Canadian foresters, despite legal rulings that the firms should be reimbursed.

"One of the reasons we have to think more globally is that it's not Canada that is seemingly moving back from (the North American Free Trade Agreement) and an open flow of goods and services across the border - it's the United States," Campbell told reporters after his speech.

Mary Mahon Jones, CEO of the Council of Tourism Associations of B.C. (COTA), praised the plans for the Asia-Pacific and Competition councils.

"I think (the Asia-Pacific Council) is a great idea," she told Business Edge. "We need a need a co-ordinated approach to trade with Asia-Pacific. Certainly, from the tourism industry's point of view, with the pending (Chinese approved-destination) status, a co-ordinated approach is exactly what we need."

The premier also told conference delegates the province will also invest heavily in a marketing campaign that aggressively promotes B.C.

(Monte Stewart can be reached at monte@businessedge.ca)