When we talk about productivity, we mean how much value we create for every hour we work.

You can see examples of productivity every day. If a mechanic gets better tools and can fix two cars a day instead of one, that is productivity growth. If a hospital upgrades its systems so a nurse spends less time on paperwork and more time with patients, that is productivity growth too. The same is true if a software engineer writes code that automates a slow task and saves their team hours each week. In each case, people are not working harder or for longer- they are just making better use of their time, skills, and tools.

These changes might seem small on their own, but they add up. When thousands of people in different jobs all find ways to do more with the same time and resources, the whole economy becomes more productive. Each hour we work creates more value.

That is where it begins to matter for living standards. Higher productivity makes it easier for wages to rise, for prices to stabilise, and for businesses to invest and grow. It also helps governments raise the revenue they need to fund healthcare, education, housing, and other services without constantly increasing taxes.

Canada vs the States

Twenty years ago, Canada’s productivity was roughly in line with that of the United States. Workers on both sides of the border produced about the same value for each hour of work.

Since then, a gap has opened and widened. Today, Canadian workers generate about 70 cents of value for every dollar produced by a worker in the United States. This is the widest productivity gap in generations.

Put simply, that works out to roughly $20,000 less GDP per person each year and about 8 per cent lower wages on average.

Change in GDP per Person
Canada vs. U.S., 2000–2025

What is Project Productivity?

Project Productivity is a Business Council of British Columbia initiative to tackle one of Canada’s biggest obstacles to long-term growth: our productivity gap.

For years, we’ve talked about the symptoms: weak business investment, overly complex regulations that slow projects down, and too few companies growing growing at scale. What we have not done is focus enough on what we can do to help people and firms do more with the time, skills, and capital they already have.

Project Productivity is our commitment to move from words to action. Working with our members, policymakers, and educators, we will turn research into practical steps that close the gap and support a more prosperous B.C. and Canada.

Project Goals

  • Identify barriers to productivity across sectors

    Use data and real-world examples to pinpoint the specific barriers in sectors like healthcare, transportation, and natural resources, so we know exactly what needs to change.

  • Turn evidence into policy and business action.

    Work with governments and business leaders to shape policies and practices that attract more capital, get projects approved and built faster, and help Canadian companies grow and compete globally from here.

  • Build a shared, practical understanding of productivity.

    Translate research into clear stories, tools, and events so business leaders, policymakers, educators, and the public can see why productivity matters and what they can do about it in their own decisions.

What’s involved?

  • These in-person seminars bring together leaders from business, labour, academia, and government to discuss sector-specific challenges and solutions to boost productivity. The goal is to move beyond conversation and identify practical actions that make a real difference. Topics covered so far include transportation and healthcare, with more to come.

  • This research series explores what’s behind Canada’s productivity gap and what can be done to turn it around. Using data and real examples from businesses across the country, each publication highlights why productivity matters for people, businesses, and B.C.’s economy. The goal is to present bold, practical policy recommendations to help boost productivity.

  • BCBC’s annual Business Summit is our flagship event and the leading platform to highlight Canada’s lagging productivity and the solutions to fix it. This year, economists from across the country shared what needs to be done to tackle our productivity emergency. Future summits will continue to advance these conversations and keep productivity at the top of BCBC’s policy agenda.

Become a Productivity Partner

We’re looking for partners who share our long-term vision and understand that meaningful policy change takes time. Project Productivity is built for lasting impact, supported by patient capital so we have the time, focus, and expertise to do this work well and show real progress.

Our founding partner, Ryan Peterson, has committed $2 million over 10 years to launch the project, hire a director, and kick-start the research, campaigns, and events that will move this work forward. We’re now inviting additional multi-year partners to help expand the project’s reach and deepen its impact.

As a Productivity Partner, your organization will be recognized across BCBC’s highest-profile platforms, including the Business Summit, other major events, our publications, and our digital channels. We’ll work with you to align the partnership with your priorities and make sure it delivers value and impact on both sides.

Productivity Partners

Founding Partner

Supporting Partner