Bill 31: Government Power Over Industry — Why BC’s Energy Future Needs Transparency

In the Legislature, I recently rose to speak on Bill 31 – the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025. This Bill has far-reaching implications not only for provincial energy policy, but also for confidence in British Columbia’s investment climate.

At its core, Bill 31 gives Cabinet the authority to decide which industries — and even which companies — are “eligible” to receive electricity service. That might sound technical, but in practice it means government can pick winners and losers in our economy.

This is not just a policy concern. It’s a real issue for communities like ours in Boundary-Similkameen, where local businesses are investing, hiring, and building the foundation for long-term prosperity.

Local Innovation at Risk

Earlier this year, I attended the opening of Boundary Electric’s new, expanded manufacturing facility in Grand Forks. Founded in 1947, this family-grown company has evolved into a leading manufacturer of transformers, substations, and modular power systems that are shipped across North America. Their expansion represents optimism and resilience at a time when many communities are still recovering from industrial closures and job losses.

Boundary Electric’s expertise has helped another local employer — DMG Blockchain Solutions — build and expand its data-centre campus at Christina Lake. DMG’s facility, once focused on digital currency operations, has now diversified into high-performance computing and AI workloads. The site operates on flexible power demand, allowing it to increase usage when there’s surplus electricity and scale back when supply is tight.

That flexibility is not a liability — it’s an asset. It helps balance the grid, integrate renewables, and create real, skilled jobs in fabrication, construction, and electrical work.

What Bill 31 Gets Wrong

Bill 31 sends the wrong message to these employers.
By giving Cabinet the power to restrict or deny access to electricity for certain sectors, the Bill injects political uncertainty into what should be a stable, transparent regulatory system.

No business can make a multi-million-dollar investment in equipment, facilities, or long-term contracts when government has the discretion to “flip the switch” off. For rural manufacturers and innovators like Boundary Electric and DMG Blockchain, that uncertainty can mean delayed orders, lost contracts, and missed opportunities for local workers.

We should be giving our businesses the confidence to grow — not reasons to look elsewhere.

A Better Path Forward

British Columbia needs an energy policy that welcomes innovation and investment while protecting ratepayers and ensuring transparency. That means clear, technology-neutral rules for access to power — not a patchwork of political discretion.

Rural BC can be a leader in the digital-industrial economy. We already have the expertise, the talent, and the track record to prove it. What we need now is a government willing to trust communities, entrepreneurs, and local industries to do what they do best: create opportunity.