By Ben McGregor
Educational content only, not investment advice. Mining stocks are high risk.
Lorne Doerkson, the new Premier of British Columbia and Leader of the Conservative Party, told supporters in his victory speech that British Columbia made a choice and that his government would get the province back on track. Spot gold closed near $3,995.81 per troy ounce on Friday, October 23, 2026. Doerkson, who comes from Williams Lake, outlined plans to welcome investment, speed up permits, and expand natural gas production while treating the entire province as one connected economy.
Doerkson introduced himself as a guy from Williams Lake who was born in New Westminster and grew up in Surrey. He spent 20 years running newspapers and served as president of the Rotary Club and vice president of the stampede. In the speech he said: “Together we seize this opportunity, you guys. And together, we voted for a better British Columbia. And from here, I will do everything in my power to get British Columbia back on track.” He thanked volunteers, candidates, and voters, including those who supported other parties, and recognized outgoing Premier David Eby for his years of service. He also congratulated Emily Lowan on her campaign. Doerkson described leadership as showing up, telling people the truth, and keeping promises rather than being loud.
Doerkson said he believes in bringing investment back to British Columbia and will host a business summit in Vancouver next year. He stated: “You can plan around a no, but you can’t plan around a maybe.” On energy he said: “We will double natural gas production by 2032 and triple it by 2035. Folks, that is tens of thousands of jobs in our province and at least $6 billion a year for hospitals and schools that we all depend on.” He promised to cut red tape, put more fiber on the trucks, deliver permits in months instead of years, and provide “backing for exploration that finds the next mine in our province.” He also called for building ports, rail, and power connections so new plants do not wait years for grid access. On taxes he said a $1,000 tax cut is just the start and there will be no new taxes.
Doerkson listed places where economic activity happens, including Kitimat where BC natural gas leaves to power the world, Fort St. John where the gas comes out of the ground, and Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake where a mill job should still pay a family nicely. He mentioned Colonna and the Okanagan, Vancouver Island fishing boats, and Trail where they have been smelting metal for more than a century. He said: “A mill running in Quesnel keeps a trucker working in Surrey. A mine opening in the north keeps a port busy in Delta. It’s one economy and it runs through every town on our map in British Columbia.” The speech frames these activities as part of the same engine rather than isolated sectors. He also said the future with First Nations will be built together as partners with the certainty all parties need.
British Columbia produces copper, gold, metallurgical coal, natural gas, and other commodities that feed global markets. Faster permitting and explicit support for exploration can reduce the time between a discovery and a decision to build a mine. Doubling or tripling natural gas production by the stated dates would require sustained capital spending on wells, pipelines, and liquefaction facilities, which often supports demand for steel, copper, and specialized equipment. The speech treats mills, mines, and ports as mutually supporting rather than competing interests. Investors who follow project timelines, permitting statistics, and capital expenditure plans from companies active in BC can compare those numbers against the timelines Doerkson described. Spot gold closed near $3,995.81 per troy ounce on Friday, October 23, 2026, providing one current market reference point.
The first concrete steps will be the composition of the new cabinet and the initial legislative calendar for red-tape reduction and permitting reform. Any announcement of the Vancouver business summit date and agenda will show which industries receive priority invitations. Quarterly updates on natural gas production volumes and new well permits will indicate whether the 2032 doubling target is being pursued through actual drilling activity. Mining exploration expenditures reported by the province and by individual companies will reveal whether “backing for exploration” appears in funding or process changes. The next major provincial budget will show how the $1,000 tax cut and the absence of new taxes are reflected in revenue forecasts that still depend on resource royalties.
Lorne Doerkson is the new Premier of British Columbia and Leader of the Conservative Party. In his victory speech after defeating David Eby, he described himself as a guy from Williams Lake who previously ran newspapers and served in local organizations.
Doerkson said his government would cut red tape, double natural gas production by 2032 and triple it by 2035, get permits in months instead of years, and provide backing for exploration that finds the next mine.
Author
Ben McGregor authors the Weekly Roundup at CanadianMiningReport.com, providing sharp analysis of the metals and mining sector. With a talent for spotting trends, Ben distills complex market shifts into clear, engaging insights on TSXV junior miners. His weekly updates cover gold, copper, uranium, and more, blending data-driven perspectives with a knack for identifying opportunities. A vital resource for investors, Ben’s work navigates the dynamic junior mining landscape with precision.