Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, the former Mayor of Vancouver, says British Columbia must continue pushing for a stronger voice in Ottawa, acknowledging that the province has historically struggled to command attention in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) last week, Robertson responded to concerns that B.C. can be overlooked due to geography and political dynamics centred in Central Canada and Eastern Canada.
“I think historically, that has been the case,” said Robertson. “It’s been tough to get Ottawa’s attention on B.C. … We’re a big country, and B.C.’s as far away as it gets.”
Robertson, who serves as B.C.’s most senior member in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the province’s influence has grown over the past decade. He credited stronger representation and what he described as a more coordinated effort among B.C. Members of Parliament.
“We have 20 B.C. Members of Parliament in the government caucus right now, which is the biggest complement we’ve ever been in,” he said, referring to what he called the “B.C. Pacific Caucus.”
“Our work is not done… there is relentless pressure from the East Coast, from Alberta. There’s always Ontario and Quebec that surround Ottawa.”
Robertson encouraged business leaders and community representatives to increase their presence in the capital.
“We have to do everything we can to fly the B.C. flag in Ottawa,” he said. “We just have to be at the table, and that means showing up at every opportunity.”
The discussion also turned to Vancouver’s bid to become the global headquarters office location of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) — a newly created multilateral institution designed to finance defence, security, and resilience projects for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members and allied nations.
The bank’s headquarters could generate an estimated 3,500 high-paying jobs in its host city, providing significant long-term economic spinoffs and positioning a city to have greater global influence.
The first step would be to convince NATO members to select Canada for the bank’s headquarters, at which point, if successful, it would be up to Prime Minister Carney and his cabinet to decide on the precise Canadian city.
GVBOT is backing the bid for Vancouver to land on the lucrative headquarters. While Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal may have traditional advantages as financial and diplomatic hubs, proponents argue Vancouver’s geographic position as an Asia-Pacific gateway makes it strategically compelling.
While the final decision on the bank’s Canadian location rests with the Prime Minister, Robertson’s remarks signalled cautious optimism that Vancouver could compete on the national stage — provided B.C. continues to assert itself in Ottawa.
“Absolutely, we stand a chance,” said Robertson when asked about Vancouver’s prospects, while noting that as a cabinet minister he must avoid appearing to favour one Canadian city over another.
“The Prime Minister’s got to make that decision,” added Robertson. “First and foremost, Canada has a really, really great opportunity here. We are positioned very well for this.”
He praised local advocates for advancing the proposal and encouraged continued engagement as negotiations among NATO countries progress this spring.
“If we get over that hurdle — which is looking promising right now — huge thanks to your work,” he said. “Keep up that strong advocacy. It makes a real difference.”