British Columbia Premier David Eby says the proposed merger between Teck Resources Ltd. and Anglo American PLC to create a $70 billion mining giant based in B.C. is a "vote of confidence" showing the province is a global hub for mining.

The premier says the merger will bring billions of dollars in investments to B.C., where his government is looking to mining to drive economic growth and provide revenues to help ease the cost-of-living "pinch."

Eby says the proposed merger to create a company to be known as Anglo Teck makes it "the largest company in the history of British Columbia."

His remarks alongside Teck president and CEO Jonathan Price came at a press conference marking the start of construction at the extension project for Teck's Highland Valley Copper Mine west of Kamloops.

There's renewed focus on resource projects in B.C., with Prime Minister Mark Carney including the LNG Canada project in Kitimat and the expansion of the Red Chris gold and copper mine in the province's northwest on the federal government's fast-track list.

Eby says he is scheduled to travel to Ottawa next week to "push" the projects in B.C., adding his province is "going to be the engine of the new Canadian economy."

He says the two fast-track projects represent "just a fraction" of the opportunity the province offers.

"If the federal governments wants to drive the Canadian economy, they only have to look west," he told Thursday's news conference.

The Highland Valley project is set to extend the life of the mine, which is the largest open-pit copper mine in Canada, to 2046, beyond the previous timeline for winding down in 2028.

The premier says the expansion represents the largest investment in critical minerals in the B.C.'s history, adding 1,500 ongoing jobs to the region and helping the province weather threats to its economy by U.S. President Donald Trump.

– Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press