CentreBC’s Sturko promises
manufacturing boost
Published 3:46 pm Friday, October 9, 2026
A CentreBC government would double the funds available to manufacturing companies in the province.
That’s the message from CentreBC leader – and Surrey South candidate – Elenore Sturko, who made the announcement during a campaign stop in Bridgeview in North Surrey on Friday morning (Oct. 9).
She said that, if CentreBC forms a government following the Oct. 24 provincial election, it plans to double B.C.’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund to $60 million, providing new funding streams for companies that build prefabricated homes, make mass timber and finished wood products, process and store B.C. food in the province, and upgrade their plants to keep pace with demand for B.C. products.
Sturko told Peace Arch News that the increase in investment in the manufacturing sector is part of the broader platform for the party – to be released on Saturday (Oct. 10), with the opening of a new campaign headquarters in South Surrey.
“It’s part of a suite of funding that will help diversify the economy by investing in value-added projects,” the former Surrey South and Surrey-Cloverdale MLA said.
As an example she offered the B.C. wood industry, in which she would like to see lumber being used in making finished products, rather than “shipping logs out of the province,” with an emphasis on prefabrication to meet housing needs.
Similarly, she said, CentreBC would like to focus on food security and sustainability of agriculture, by keeping food manufacturing, and storage in province for products that would be sold both internally and also to other parts of Canada, and ultimately across the globe.
Sturko said the party has also committed to increasing funding for job training to $60 million.
“With all of the new developments (in manufacturing) we need trained, skilled professionals to make sure that we get the products we need and also that B.C. residents are first in line for the jobs,” she said.
She noted that the CentreBC’s platform is based on costed-out programs where the sources of revenue are known, rather than guessed at, and every grant project, and what it created, would have a public scorecard
“British Columbians deserve to see credible plans that are measurable and achievable,” she said.
“Anyone can say anything (during an election) – but at the end of the day we have to make sure we’re honest with British Columbians.”
Sturko’s – and CentreBC’s – new campaign headquarters will be located at 3566 King George Blvd.