Understanding PST impacts on machinery & equipment to support B.C.'s reindustrialization - BC-949

Project type: Research
Desired discipline(s): Business, Social Sciences & Humanities, Economics
Company: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: 06/02/2025
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Vancouver, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Undergraduate/Bachelor
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: Yes

About the company: 

Since its inception in 1887, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Western Canada's leading business association, engaging our members to inform public policy at all levels of government and empowering them to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one-third of B.C.'s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength by facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development through unique training opportunities. In addition, we operate one of the largest events platforms in the country, providing a stage for national and international thought leaders to enlighten B.C.'s business leaders.

Describe the project.: 

This research project is part of a broader GVBOT initiative called “The 3% Challenge: An Agenda for Economic Growth,” which calls on the province to pursue policies that enable 3% annual economic growth. One stream of this work focuses on the potential for “reindustrializing” British Columbia by identifying and removing barriers to investment in manufacturing and advanced production.

This project will investigate the application of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on machinery and equipment in B.C. The goal is to analyze trends over the past 10–20 years, identify which items are being taxed, and propose policy recommendations for targeted PST exemptions that would encourage capital investment, while remaining fiscally responsible.

The intern will conduct a deep-dive into available data sources (public and private), evaluate provincial tax policy and comparable jurisdictions, and potentially engage in interviews or FOI requests, depending on data accessibility. Methodologies may include quantitative analysis, policy review, and stakeholder engagement. The final product will be a report or policy brief with evidence-based recommendations for phased-in PST relief in strategic areas of industrial investment.

Required expertise/skills: 

Required expertise/skills
• Strong research and analytical skills, including working with economic or tax policy data
• Familiarity with public finance, tax systems, and/or industrial policy
• Experience in Excel, data analysis tools (e.g. R, Python, or Stata), and qualitative research methods
• Ability to synthesize complex information into policy-oriented writing

Optional assets:
• Experience with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
• Knowledge of B.C. provincial government processes or tax systems
• Comfort conducting stakeholder interviews or surveys