BC begins US film push

Just days after being appointed to their new jobs, three members of the B.C. government are off to California to promote the province as a hot spot for film production. Spencer Chandra Herbert, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, said in a statement they want to bring the “biggest productions” to the province, allowing […]

Funding for Vancouver rentals

VANCOUVER — The federal government is providing more than $574 million in financing to help build about 950 rental homes in Vancouver. The government says in a news release that a project on 42nd Avenue is one of four locations receiving funds through the Apartment Loan Construction Program, which offers repayable low-interest loans to encourage […]

Unions challenge interventions

Three unions are now challenging the federal government’s recent decisions to intervene in major labour disputes, saying it’s undermining workers’ rights. The union representing locked-out dock workers in Montreal was the latest Wednesday morning to say it plans to challenge Ottawa’s intervention in court, not long after the union representing locked-out workers in B.C. announced […]

No movement in port impasse

VANCOUVER — Canadian retailers say their frustration is growing with the lack of movement to resolve disruptions at Canada’s two largest ports, including silence surrounding a lockout at B.C. ports that is into its fourth day. Matt Poirier with the Retail Council of Canada said there “doesn’t seem to be any urgency” in resolving the […]

Port employers lock doors

VANCOUVER — Employers have locked out more than 700 unionized workers in the latest development in a labour dispute that the union says will shut down all ports in B.C. until further notice. The BC Maritime Employers Association said Monday that its “difficult decision” to impose the lockout came after the International Longshore and Warehouse […]

Vancouver home sales up

VANCOUVER — Greater Vancouver Realtors says home sales in the region jumped 31.9% in October compared with the same month last year, marking potential early signs of a long-awaited rebound after the Bank of Canada’s four consecutive cuts to its key interest rate. The real estate board says there were 2,632 sales of existing residential […]

Port labour dispute intensifies

VANCOUVER — Ports in B.C. could potentially be paralyzed again starting next week, as the latest labour dispute has triggered a provincewide lockout notice from employers against a union of more than 700 foremen. The BC Maritime Employers Association says in a statement that it will “defensively” lock out members of the International Longshore and […]

Foremen issue strike notice

VANCOUVER — Employers at B.C.’s ports say they have received 72-hour strike notice from the union representing about 700 foremen in an ongoing labour dispute. The two sides had been negotiating with the help of a federal mediator for the last three days in a bid to avoid a work stoppage that would affect all […]

Canfor continues to struggle

VANCOUVER — Canfor Corp. says it had a net loss of $350.1 million in its last quarter as it took writedowns and impairment charges related to mill closures in a slumping lumber market. The forestry company says the net loss worked out to $2.96 per share, compared with a net loss of $23.1 million or […]

Dock foremen seek new deal

VANCOUVER — Employers and the union representing foremen at B.C.’s ports will return to the negotiating table next week with a mediator in the latest push for a resolution in the labour dispute. The BC Maritime Employers Association says in a statement that it will meet Oct. 29 with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union […]