BC Biz


Big penalties for overpass strikes
The Canadian Press - Mar 12, 2024 - BC Biz

VICTORIA — Penalties for commercial truck crashes into overpasses or other infrastructure in B.C. are set to soar, including fines of up to $100,000 and jail sentences up to 18 months. The New Democrat government says it’s proposing changes to the Commercial Transport Act that currently prescribes fines for over-height vehicles of $500 to $598, […]

$496M trade surplus posted
The Canadian Press - Mar 07, 2024 - BC Biz

Statistics Canada says the country posted a merchandise trade surplus of $496 million in January as imports fell to their lowest level since February 2022. The surplus came after a revised trade deficit of $863 million in December compared with an initial report of a $312-million deficit for the final month of 2023. Statistics Canada […]

Apple settles with Canadians
The Canadian Press - Mar 04, 2024 - BC Biz

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Supreme Court has approved a countrywide multimillion-dollar settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Apple over software updates that allegedly slowed down older iPhones. “We’re pleased with the results,” said K.S. Garcha, a lawyer for the class. “It was a complex matter.” Garcha said the judge in the case approved the settlement […]

Trans Mountain cost ballooning
The Canadian Press - Feb 27, 2024 - BC Biz

CALGARY — The company building the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion now estimates the project’s costs will come in 10% higher than its May 2023 estimate of $30.9 billion. That’s according to a regulatory filing Trans Mountain Corp. provided to the Canada Energy Regulator on Monday. It represents the latest in a series of cost increases […]

BC minimum wage going up
The Canadian Press - Feb 26, 2024 - BC Biz

VICTORIA — Minimum-wage workers in B.C. will get a pay hike of 65 cents an hour to $17.40 starting June 1, a move the government says will help lift more people out of poverty. The Ministry of Labour says in a statement the 3.9% increase is consistent with the province’s average inflation rate last year. […]

BC budget family friendly
The Canadian Press - Feb 22, 2024 - BC Biz

VICTORIA — B.C. families and small business operators are expected to benefit from an election-year budget that boosts spending while forecasting a ballooning deficit of more than $7.9 billion and economic growth of less than 1%. The budget also includes a home flipping tax to deter real estate speculators, as well as a commitment to […]

Provincial taxes staying put
The Canadian Press - Feb 21, 2024 - BC Biz

VICTORIA — B.C. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said the province should prepare for a fiscal deficit in the upcoming budget, but there won’t be cuts that result in a “deficit of services.” Speaking Wednesday, the day before she tables the 2024 budget in the legislature, Conroy promised to not raise taxes, while protecting services for […]

Timber company hanging tough
The Canadian Press - Feb 15, 2024 - BC Biz

VANCOUVER — West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. president and CEO Sean McLaren said he expects the company will continue to experience unpredictable challenges such as inflation risks and labour constraints. However, he told analysts during the company’s earnings conference call that West Fraser is encouraged by lower mortgages rates in the U.S. and the continued […]

Telus still wants changes
The Canadian Press - Feb 09, 2024 - BC Biz

Telus Corp. has no plans to halt its own fibre network build in response to recent regulatory actions but says the CRTC needs to strike a balance between promoting competition and maintaining incentives for large carriers to invest in their networks. Chief financial officer Doug French said Friday that the Vancouver-based telecommunications company agrees with […]

Trucking companies cry foul
The Canadian Press - Feb 07, 2024 - BC Biz

VANCOUVER — Two trucking firms say the B.C. government wrongly concluded they were “one operation” after an overpass crash last December and want a court to let them both back on the province’s road. B.C.-based Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. and Alberta-based Chohan Group Ltd. say in B.C. Supreme Court petitions that they’re separate legal entities […]