the reactive roles of providing information, .accessible and
impartial referral, and other forms of assistance.

the initiative roles of regional promotion, improving the business
climate, presenting an economic development viewpoint, and
identifying specific regional business opportunities.

The initiative roles rely heavily on marketing expertise which is not
currently available within the Planning Department.

The reactive roles are more compatible with current Planning Departiient
operations and expertise. Since the Task Force was formed the Department,
aS part. of its ongoing function, has: ;

¢. improved its regional and sub-regional employment estimates

@ published population, labour force, and commercial floor space
data and forecasts

developed an improved commercial and industrial floor space
monitoring system that will produce useful information for
businesses interested in locating or expanding in the region

began to review the type of regional information it makes
available in published form.

This is a beginning toward Filling the need,
Force in both its Study and presentations to
-. for usable and easily accessible

They stres§éd there js no source
to or expanding in the region can go for comprenensive, impartial
regional information. The client must have an appreciation of the
regional market be‘ore making a decision to locate and starting the
site selection Process. The Task Force indicated most of the reauired
information already exists but that it is spread amongst a bewildering
array of municipalities, departments and agencies. The GVRD Planning
Department is well suited to gathering and distributing the required
information.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Committee forward Option 3 to the Board:
ask the Planning Department to develop (for 1982) a Program and buige!
Ve

tions

ru

which would provide some of the key reactive economic development
identified by the Task Force.

It is suggested the Program include:

e€ containing information
to be developed in consultation
y of Industry and Small Business Developnient and
the municipal economic development officers). Tables of contents
of such profiles are attached in Appendix A.