Now hear this, bar employees

WorkSafeBC wants those in the service industry to be concerned about the risk of hearing loss. The organization found that pubs and nightclubs in Vancouver and Victoria have noise levels higher than 95 decibels, which can cause hearing loss in unprotected workers. “Noise is a serious and widespread problem in many workplaces, and this includes […]

Horgan wants gas answers

VICTORIA — B.C.’s independent energy regulator will have the power to call oil company representatives as witnesses into an investigation of high gasoline prices in the province. Premier John Horgan has tasked the B.C. Utilities Commission to examine the market factors that affect wholesale and retail gas prices, and he wants a report by Aug. […]

Carriage industry vows fight

VICTORIA — Supporters of Victoria’s horse-drawn carriages plan a rally on Thursday after learning city councillors have asked staff to examine phasing out the industry. A council decision last week asked staff to consider the effect of phasing out horse-drawn carriage businesses by 2023. Donna Friedlander, spokeswoman for the industry and also the owner-operator of […]

BC market continues freeze

Home sales and their prices continue to fall back to earth in B.C. The British Columbia Real Estate Association reported an 18.9 per cent decline in sales in April when compared to the same month in 2018. It also found that the average price from sales that were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) […]

Revenue, net loss both up

NANAIMO — Tilray Inc. says its revenue rose nearly 200 per cent in its most recent quarter, but its net loss also grew. The Nanaimo-based company, which keeps its books in U. S. dollars, says its revenue grew 195.1 per cent to US$23 million for the first quarter ended March 31 compared to $7.8 million […]

Aritzia boasts big profits

VANCOUVER — Canadian clothing retailer Aritzia Inc. touted strong sales as it eyes more opportunities for growth in its online and American businesses. “We’re extremely pleased with our results,” said CEO Brian Hill during a conference call with analysts Thursday after the company released its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2019 earnings report. The Vancouver-based company […]

BC leads housing start increase

OTTAWA — The pace of housing starts in Canada picked up in April as it rose more than 20 per cent compared with March, fuelled by the start of work on new multi-unit projects such as condominiums, apartments and townhouses. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Wednesday the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts […]

Fish facility under microscope

PRINCE RUPERT — Fisheries and Oceans Canada is conducting what it describes as a large-scale forensic audit of a fish processing facility near Prince Rupert. A news release from the federal department says it’s following up reports of alleged illegal activity on the north coast that includes fish bartered or sold in exchange for the […]

Gas prices could skyrocket

VICTORIA — Get ready for higher gasoline prices and shortages in B.C. and a supply surplus on the Prairies if Alberta Premier Jason Kenney uses a newly proclaimed law to restrict fuel exports to its western neighbour, say industry experts and court documents. “The one wild card factor that we really can’t predict is the […]

Alberta readies for oil fight

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his government now has the power to reduce oil flows to B.C. in the fight over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Kenney says he called B.C. Premier John Horgan after the cabinet proclaimed a bill into law just after being sworn in on Tuesday. He says it was […]