TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – July 18, 2025

When my wife finally allowed me behind the wheel of her new hybrid SUV, I couldn’t tell whether I had actually started the vehicle since all I heard were bells and whistles instead of the steady hum of a combustion engine.

Not being able to hear in my left ear didn’t help but to be honest, until recently I had barely sat in a hybrid or EV let alone driven one so I had no clue on what to expect. It appears I’m not alone. In fact, most of us still use gas or diesel-powered vehicles to get around…which the Province says contributes to well over 40% of all emissions in BC.

According to the 2024 Climate Change Accountability Report, while emissions per person and per unit of GDP are down, total emissions remain steady. The bottom line is British Columbia is not on track to meet its 2025 and 2030 targets.

Hence the reason government launched an independent review of CleanBC programs in May to ensure they are effectively reducing emissions. As you are aware, CleanBC is British Columbia’s road map for cutting climate pollution and building a cleaner, more sustainable future by helping people and businesses switch to cleaner energy, expand access to electric vehicles and renewable power, among other goals.

While written submissions by industry professionals, labour organizations, NGOs and climate experts to the Province’s CleanBC program review must be submitted by end of day today, the online survey for all residents is open for another two weeks.

In either case, government is looking to answer a series of questions on CleanBC policies, including, but not limited to:

• What is working well?
• What are the challenges and/or areas for improvement?
• What gaps exist, and how could they best be filled?
• Are there different ways to fund CleanBC programs beyond government grants, rebates, and incentives?
• Are there factors (e.g. workforce, supply chains, permitting, capital, cost effectiveness) that are currently unable to support the adoption of emissions-reducing technologies and services encouraged or required by CleanBC?
• How could CleanBC’s policies and programs be better aligned or integrated with other provincial priorities?
• With regards to BC’s approach to establishing targets (2025, 2030, 2040 and 2050; and sectoral targets), public reporting and accountability – what is working well and what are the challenges and/or areas for improvement? 

If you aren’t planning to meet today’s deadline for a submission, at the very least take the survey by August 1st to offer your perspective on CleanBC 2030. The collective voice of the tourism and hospitality sector is critical to help shape policies on the environment and sustainability that affect our industry now and in future.

I’m really hoping my wife lets me use her new hybrid vehicle every once in a while, not only to help me do my part to reduce emissions in the event I need to travel somewhere inaccessible by public transit, but also because her car has so many more bells and whistles to discover, which makes it fun to drive.

Learn more about the engagement process and how to submit a written summary by today’s deadline HERE.

Walt Judas

CEO, TIABC