That’s despite the magnitude of growth in the knowledge economy. In high-tech alone, there are more than 60,000 people working in Metro Vancouver.

“And provincewide, high tech employs more people than fishing, forestry, mining, and oil and gas combined,” Petter said.

The SFU president emphasized that natural resources remain important to the economy. However, he said it will require “research, innovation, and high-level skills” to “maximize their value in light of changing market conditions”.

SFU Pres. Petter: Education must be core to B.C.’s economic strategy