Hope for softwood lumber

Premier Christy Clark says there may be a “ray of hope” for B.C.’s softwood lumber industry, as negotiations for a new trade agreement with the United States threaten to turn into a legal battle. The provincial and federal governments have been negotiating with the U.S. to try and finalize a new softwood lumber trade agreement […]

Events centre for Nanaimo

The City of Nanaimo has selected a waterfront property for a new arena and events centre. A borrowing bylaw for construction on the city-owned industrial property on Port Drive will be given first three readings tonight. Council will also consider a referendum question on the project, on which the public will get their say March 11. […]

We’ve got visitors

International visitors are flocking to British Columbia. More than 5.1 million international visitors arrived in B.C. for 2016, a 12.2 per cent increase over the same time period in 2015. “Tourism is a key economic driver in B.C. and the latest numbers show that more than five million international visitors selected British Columbia as their […]

Luxury marina for Victoria

A $24-million luxury marina is set to open in Victoria this summer. Victoria International Marina is under construction in the capital’s outer harbour. Community Marine Concepts unveiled new drawings this week showing what the marina look. The 28-slip marina will cater to large vessels of 65 feet in length and up, will have a floating […]

Foreign home tax reversal

A man who lost thousands of dollars when British Columbia introduced a tax on foreigners buying homes says tweaks to the policy are a good step forward but the harm has already been done to his family. Nic Benner and his family had just moved to the Vancouver area from Colorado for his job in […]

Your share of gov’t debt

Paying the interest on government debt cost Canadian taxpayers $62.8 billion last year, says the Fraser Institute. That translates to $1,752 for every Canadian, or slightly more than $7,000 for a family of four. The think-tank’s study says federal and provincial debt in 2016-17 will total $1.4 trillion, an increase of more than half-a-trillion dollars […]

Missing her targets

Premier Christy Clark says her government’s retooled jobs plan aims to make British Columbia the most diversified economy in Canada. The premier admitted during a five-year update on her jobs plan that the government missed previous targets for students, on growth in mines and for the liquefied natural gas industry. Clark says diversification, innovation, trade […]

More spending on plastic

B.C. and Ontario led the nation in consumer spending in the fourth quarter of 2016. And, more of us are pulling our plastic to make those purchases, which are increasingly on luxury items. Spending grew by 4.19 per cent nationally, according to debit and credit processor Moneris. Ontario saw a 6.24 per cent increase, and […]

A drink at the barber’s

B.C.’s newest liquor regulations come into force today, allowing businesses like barbershops, salons, book stores and art galleries to apply for a liquor licence. The government says the changes will update the laws and reduce red tape. The new act will allow: all types of businesses to apply for a liquor licence, giving them opportunities […]

Big byte in B.C. economy

B.C.’s tech sector is breaking records. According to the provincial Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services, the tech sector in British Columbia is has hit the milestone of employing more than 100,000 people. The B.C. tech sector also had the highest company revenues and employee wages ever recorded. “In today’s economy, virtually every business relies […]