BC cabinet shuffle: Kahlon back, Glumac tapped for AI, Gibson moved

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Premier David Eby has unveiled his third cabinet, making a series of strategic moves designed to align government leadership with BC’s economic priorities—and bringing key players back to portfolios critical to the province’s tech and innovation sectors.

Ravi Kahlon returns to familiar ground as Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, a rebranded role that signals a continued focus on attracting investment and building economic resilience. Kahlon previously led the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation from 2020 to 2022, overseeing pandemic-era recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, Diana Gibson, who held the Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation portfolio after her election in 2024, has been shuffled out. Gibson, an entrepreneur and expert in social policy, had expressed optimism about the ministry’s impact during her short tenure, telling Vancouver Tech Journal in 2024 that the ministry was “punching above its weight” in delivering for the province. She didn’t have long to put her mark on the innovation file.

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☀️ Here comes the sun: Victoria-based Cellulotech secured a strategic investment to expand its green chemistry technology aimed at sustainable materials production.

💪 Break on through: Shift introduced the world’s first fully customizable web browser, challenging conventional browser designs with its new approach.

🤝 Let’s stick together: Local startup Aluula garnered attention for its patented, glue-free polyethylene composite textile that transformed kiteboarding gear and is being explored for cargo ship decarbonization and space habitat use.

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July 24 | Understanding CUSMA Compliance

Join in Victoria for a half-day, in-person workshop designed for B.C. exporters. This timely session will help you better understand and apply CUSMA trade rules, including tariffs, tax remission programs, and origin documentation.

July 24 | Lunch-and-Learn - Kelp, Astronomy, and Technical Debt

Head to theDock - Center for Social Impact on July 24th for a novel lunch-and-learn highlighting the work of Neil Ernst, an associate professor at the University of Victoria in the Department of Computer Science.

August 7 | Regenerative Thinking for Professionals and Designers

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