BC government going remote

B.C.’s top bureaucrat says the government is embracing remote work in a bid to recruit and retain talent as it struggles to fill jobs. Shannon Salter, deputy minister to the premier, sent a memo last week that “strongly encouraged” ministries to approve flexible work arrangements for employees who want them. It also included new guidelines […]

Telus earnings, revenue on rise

VANCOUVER — Telus Corp. expects a big bump in free cash flow as well as double-digit gains in revenue and earnings in the year ahead as it winds down a major broadband build out and works to maximize benefits from acquisitions, including in its health division. The company said Thursday it expects free cash flow […]

Canfor makes more moves

VANCOUVER — Canfor Corporation says as many as 157 employees face layoffs in one northern B.C. town, but the company says it’s too early to estimate job losses in a second community as the forest products firm restructures its B.C. operations. Canfor announced Wednesday it is permanently closing its sawmill and pellet plant in Chetwynd, […]

New forestry program launches

The provincial government has pledged a certain amount of fibre supply to small and medium-sized manufacturers that create value-added wood products, all in an effort to accelerate the growth of the industry and create jobs. The BC Timber Sales Value-Added Manufacturing Program will be restricted to facilities that have minimal or no forestry tenure and […]

New deal for support workers

VICTORIA — Thousands of health-care support workers in B.C. have a tentative contract agreement after a year of talks. The BC General Employees’ Union and Health Employers Association announced the agreement Monday, saying it was reached early Sunday morning. The contract covers 21,700 people who work in private homes, group homes, residential living centres, child […]

MLA: Time to cut stumpage fees

More workers in the B.C. lumber industry have been told to stay home now that Canfor has extended sawmill and pulp mill curtailments into late January. Citing weak market conditions and the lack of economically viable fibre, last week the lumber giant announced two-week extensions of its curtailments at Prince George Sawmill and Plateau Sawmill […]

Investor money tough to find

Michael Anderson and his team spent much of 2022 on the hunt for what he describes as “Goldilocks partners” for his Vancouver tech firm Expeto Wireless Inc. The company specializes in simplifying enterprise networking over private and public mobile networks. And in a bid to boost growth, Anderson was after new investors to serve as […]

RBC: Buyers’ market soon in BC

TORONTO — High interest rates will continue to hold back homebuyers into the new year, except in Ontario and B.C., a new report by RBC says. The report released Thursday said those purchasing real estate in Ontario and B.C. in 2023 will hold a stronger hand as conditions in these provinces continue to favour buyers […]

CRTC nixes processing fee

OTTAWA — Canada’s telecommunications regulator refused a request from Telus Corp. to charge some customers a credit card processing fee. While Telus didn’t need the CRTC’s approval to add the surcharge, the regulator said Thursday that it was concerned about its effects on affordability, consumer interest and “the most vulnerable consumers, who rely on credit […]

BC teachers get big bump

VANCOUVER — A tentative contract has been reached for British Columbia’s 49,000 public school teachers in a deal the union says would take them from near the bottom to the “top tier” of pay in Canada. In a statement sent to members, BC Teachers’ Federation president Clint Johnston said the agreement was reached after more […]