Building the secure supply chain of the future

It’s hard to find anyone who regularly shops at the grocery store who hasn’t noticed shortages of goods that used to be plentiful. Ask any driver about the price of gas, and you’ll likely get an earful. And ask any gamer looking to buy a PlayStation 5, and you’ll almost certainly get a tale of woe.

All these frustrations—and more—can be attributed to complex global supply chains. And yet local challenges to them—like when Vancouver was cut off from the rest of Canada due to mudslides and floods in late 2021—require local solutions.

And we’ll need a made-in-Canada approach to solve nationwide supply chain issues. Canada is a trading nation. Two-thirds of our GDP is related to the import-export trade. Without a dynamic transport and trade network, our economy suffers, as do tax revenues and the ability of government to deliver public services.

How do we secure the supply chain for the future? During a recent discussion of BC business leaders, three priorities emerged:

1. Establish an ecosystem—and ensure that it works
2. Move quickly to respond to short-term issues
3. Look for long-term threats

We have an incredible opportunity to build on the momentum of the system-wide collaboration and coordinated action we proved ourselves capable of during the pandemic. Together, we can build a more resilient supply chain, a more robust economy, and a more prosperous Canada.

For more information, read Building the secure supply chain of the future.