Absolute Performance Improvement Masked by Stable Ranks

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Progress Board released its 11th and final benchmark summary report today, making way for the new BC Jobs and Investment Board to take over the task of monitoring BC’s performance for government.

"The most important lesson from the benchmark exercise that we can pass on to the new board is that British Columbia’s relative ranks have been generally slow to change – but that does not mean that our province's absolute economic and social performance has been poor or stagnant," said Progress Board chair Gerry Martin.

For example, the report notes that although performance through most of the 1990s was well below average on two key economic indicators built around GDP and income, BC lost only one rank position during that time. By comparison, considerably stronger growth since the late 1990s resulted in BC moving up just one rank position for GDP, and actually losing one position for income.

The report notes three main reasons for rankings remaining relatively stable:

• 1. While BC's performance improved in many areas, including GDP and income, so did the performance of other provinces – so the relative positions stayed the same.
• 2. For other rankings – such as environmental quality and health outcomes – British Columbia was already first.
• 3. In areas like crime, BC improved more than any other jurisdiction in the country over several years – but because the initial performance had been so poor, those improvements only moved British Columbia to about average.

Most of the economic data in the final benchmark report are from 2010, the target year from the board’s first report in 2001.

"The goals we set in 2002 were intended to be 'stretch objectives' – something to strive for with the recognition that the province may not achieve them in all, or any, particular year, and may not ever achieve them," Martin said. "British Columbia has improved on many indicators and should continue to strive to reach these challenging goals."

Martin said current members are extremely proud of the BC Progress Board's accomplishments, reputation and impact on policy in British Columbia.

"We wish to take this opportunity to thank previous board and all economic advisory group members for sharing their insight and volunteering countless hours to the task of improving British Columbia," Martin said.

He also thanked government for its support and encouragement through the years.

The provincial government demonstrated great vision and courage when it established the BC Progress Board in 2001 to monitor British Columbia's performance and advise on ways to improve it. What was remarkable, and what remains unmatched, was the board’s dedication to transparency and independence."

The BC Progress Board issued benchmark reports every December from 2002 through 2011. All the board’s work is available at here

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Media Contact:
Gerry Martin,
Chair, BC Progress Board
(604) 775-2125