Infrastructure

Benefits of B.C.'s Infrastructure

• Airports

  B.C. has five international airports and an additional thirty-one certified airports across the province with significant market reach to destinations around the world. Among them is Vancouver International Airport (YVR). As a central port between Asia and the Americas, it features direct flights to 60+ destinations including 15 in the Asia Pacific region. Its Cargo Village occupies more than one million square feet (92,900 square meters) of cargo buildings and warehouse space. Leading global freight forwarders operate at YVR, supported by carriers in air-to-truck movements.

• BC Hydro integrated grid

  With 98% of the electricity generated in B.C. coming from clean or renewable resources, B.C.’s power production is among the cleanest in western North America. 

  BC Hydro’s reliable, low-carbon electrical grid consists of 30 hydroelectricity plants, over 300 substations, and nearly 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) of power lines. This integrated power system minimizes customers’ risk of operational downtime and keeps energy costs among the lowest in North America. Each year, BC Hydro generates over 12,000 MW of power. In 2025, this will increase by over 9% when an additional 1,100 MW of capacity is added to our generating portfolio as the Site C facility comes online.

  Learn more about B.C.'s infrastructure.

  Download transmission map

• Telecommunications

  B.C.’s high-speed broadband network is critical for the rapid delivery of information and is a backbone for the province’s innovation hub. B.C. is the site of current terrestrial fiber optic and planned subsea cable landing stations that allow local operations to benefit from uninterrupted communication. 
   
  Google’s Topaz subsea fiber optic cable will connect Canada and Asia, and is expected to be in service by 2023. This will improve data sovereignty options for technology businesses in the region, while also providing sub-30 millisecond latency times between points on the west coast of North America.

  Learn more about the Google Topaz subsea fiber cable.

  B.C.’s comprehensive fiber optic network favors technology companies looking for stable, reliable, and rapid data transmission.

  Download subsea cable map

• Pipelines

  B.C. regulates over 30,000 miles (50,000 km) of Canada Energy Regulator-approved pipelines.

  Among these pipelines, Enbridge BC’s hub in Huntingdon, B.C. provides connections between Alberta, northeastern B.C., the metro Vancouver area, and the western U.S. coastal states of Washington, Oregon, and California.
   
  Other pipelines that operate in B.C. include Pacific Northern Gas spanning from Prince Rupert, B.C. to Prince George, B.C., and Trans Mountain spanning from Strathcona County, Alberta to Burnaby, B.C.

  Download pipeline map

• Seaports

  B.C. is Canada’s gateway to the Asia Pacific. The province’s strategic Pacific Coast location allows for direct access between markets in Asia and North America. There are two international seaports in B.C. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest and most diversified port. Farther north up the B.C. coast, the Port of Prince Rupert features the deepest natural harbor in North America and is strategically situated on the great circle route, reducing delivery times.
   
  Businesses in the clean-tech sector—including hydrogen and low-carbon fuel producers—benefit from up to a three-day faster delivery time for shipments. This expedited delivery time grants these businesses a competitive advantage over companies located elsewhere in North America when importing and exporting products and resources.

  The Port of Vancouver publishes real-time supply chain data for truck rail, and shipping metrics.

• Railways

  Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific (CP), and BNSF railways provide quick, efficient freight transport connections from B.C. reaching markets on three coasts: Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific. The integrated Class I railway networks offer the fastest and most reliable key lane routes, providing competitive access to leading markets throughout North America.