Gas prices get more transparent

The provincial government is adding a new layer of transparency to the price consumers pay at the pumps. B.C. Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Bruce Ralston announced Friday morning additional regulations that will allow consumers to track how prices are set at the wholesale level. This is in addition to information now available that breaks down […]

UVic finds its president

VICTORIA — A year-long search for a new president has taken the University of Victoria to Australia to hire a Canadian man. Kevin Hall is a senior administrator at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales but has deep roots in Canadian education. Hall’s family came to Canada from the United Kingdom in 1964 […]

BC hiring contact tracers

VICTORIA — B.C. is hiring 500 health-care professionals to help with its COVID-19 contact tracing efforts ahead of the flu season and a potential surge in cases. Premier John Horgan says the jobs will be temporary and likely filled by retired nurses and recent graduates. Horgan also called on B.C. celebrities, such as Ryan Reynolds […]

Vrooman ready to lead YVR

Tamara Vrooman knew what she was getting into accepting the role of president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport in late April—in the middle of a pandemic. The tourism sector has been hit hard during the pandemic with passenger volumes at YVR dropping initially by more than 90%. Vrooman, who started July 1, noted travel […]

Interfor logs $3.2M in profits

Interfor Corp. says it earned $3.2 million in profits in its latest quarter despite lower revenues. The Vancouver-based forest products producer says its net income equalled five cents per share in the second quarter, compared with a net loss of 17 cents per share or $11.2 million a year earlier. Adjusted profits came in at […]

Fraser Institute: health tax costs

The Fraser Institute says the B.C. health tax will cost workers nearly $3,000 per year “in foregone wages.” Last year, the B.C. government replaced the Medical Services Plan (MSP) paid by British Columbians with the Employment Health Tax, which applies to employers with annual payrolls of $500,000 or more. “While the government’s new tax targets […]

Walmart to require masks

Walmart has confirmed it will require customers in Canada to wear face masks covering their nose and mouth soon. The policy is due to start Aug. 12 according to corporate affairs manager Felicia Fefer. “Customers have done a great job following face covering requirements in those jurisdictions where it is mandated by the local government,” she states […]

Masks now mandatory on buses

Starting August 24, BC Transit will require all transit passengers to wear face coverings on buses, in partnership with TransLink and other transportation agencies. The new rule will apply province-wide in a concerted effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in British Columbia. “While face coverings will be mandatory, the policy will be implemented as an educational step without […]

Awful Airbnb wants 2nd chance

An Airbnb previously denied a permit in Osoyoos after reports of tenants behaving badly is asking for a second chance. A rural Osoyoos Airbnb dubbed a “nightmare” by neighbours and denied an operation permit by local government last month is back, asking for a second chance. The owners of the 37th Street property, Richard and Maria Law, have […]

BC firm lands fighter jet contract

A Delta company was recently awarded major contracts to supply a component for one of the world’s most highly advanced fighter jets. Avcorp Industries, which manufactures integrated composite and metallic aircraft structures at its Tilbury operation, announced it has been awarded contracts by BAE Systems for the assembly of the F-35 carrier variant outboard wing. […]