INSIGHTS INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY.

Data-driven analysis, expert commentary, and clear economic signals to help construction leaders plan ahead and make confident decisions.

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Clear, Practical Economics for Builders and Business Leaders

The ICBA Economics team tracks the trends, forecasts, and policy decisions influencing construction and the broader provincial economy. From labour market changes to major project investment to government policy shifts, we break complex issues down into practical insights you can use.
2 min read

ICBA EconoBot | A Record Energy Quarter, and the Tariff Bill Coming Due

Jordan Bateman: Aug 27, 2026

TOP STORY A Record Energy Quarter — and the Tariff Bill Coming Due For the first time since 2022, Canada sold the world more than it bought. That gap — economists call it a current account surplus, and it counts everything we trade, from...
2 min read

ICBA EconoBot | The Trade War Is Here: 50% Tariffs Land, Ottawa Fires Back Sept. 8

Jordan Bateman: Aug 25, 2026

TOP STORY The Trade War Is Here: 50% U.S. Tariffs Hit Cement and Wood Products — Ottawa Fires Back Sept. 8 Canada-U.S. trade talks collapsed late Friday, and 50 per cent American tariffs landed on roughly C$28 billion (US$20 billion) of...
3 min read

OP/ED: Here’s how Canadian policymakers should respond to Trump’s tariffs

Jock Finlayson: Aug 25, 2026

The following op-ed, co-written by ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and Steven Globerman, was released by the Fraser Institute on August 24, 2026. The recent last-minute collapse of Canada-United States trade negotiations raises an...
Policy And Regulation
Policy and Regulation

Breakdowns of new provincial rules, permitting changes, procurement shifts, and labour legislation.

Major Projects Update

Major Projects Updates

Tracking the progress, delays, and opportunities in B.C.’s largest construction and infrastructure projects.

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Economic & Labour Trends

Workforce demand, wage pressures, market forecasts, and what they mean for contractors.
Regional Impacts
Regional Impacts

Insights tailored to the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Interior, and Northern B.C.

About Jock Finlayson

Jock Finlayson is the Chief Economist for the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), the first to hold the role in the organization’s 50-year history. He provides analysis, forecasts, and policy insight for B.C.’s construction sector and advises ICBA on economic trends and strategic issues.

Jock previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the Business Council of British Columbia, and before that as Vice President of Research at the Business Council of Canada. He holds degrees from UBC and Yale, along with an honorary Doctor of Laws from Royal Roads University.

A widely published economist, Jock has authored two books and more than 50 articles and commentaries, and is a frequent contributor to Business in Vancouver, the Globe and Mail, Black Press, and other media.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Canada, the National Statistics Council, and several national research and policy organizations. Jock is a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute and a Fellow of Royal Roads University.

Jock Finlayson

 

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