Flair done with Hamilton

TORONTO — Flair Airlines is planning to leave Hamilton this fall for Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, just months after new ultra-low-cost rival Swoop landed at the smaller airport. The airline based in Kelowna, B.C., said Friday that its Hamilton service will end on Oct. 27. “After extensive analysis we made the determination that due to […]

Vancouver house sales plummet

VANCOUVER — Home sales in July across Metro Vancouver tumbled to their lowest level in 18 years in statistics compiled by the real estate board, but prices remained steady since last month. The Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board says 2,070 properties changed hands in July, a 30 per cent plunge when compared with July of […]

Vancouver wants decrepit hotels

VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver is moving to assume ownership of two decaying hotels on the Downtown Eastside that had been home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. The city announced it has filed a notice of expropriation for the Balmoral and Regent hotels, which were both closed over health and safety […]

Government jobs rule

It may not come as a surprise that government workers get paid more than their private-sector counterparts. But new research from the Fraser Institute shows beside earning 7.5 per cent more for comparable work, they also enjoy much more generous benefits. The public policy think-tank says understanding the wage and benefit gap between the public and private […]

BC will protect pensions

VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan says B. C.’s government has moved to protect the pensions of retirees and workers at Catalyst Paper if the pulp mill is forced to close or sell its operations. Catalyst and the former B.C. Liberal government agreed in 2012 to give the company 16 years to meet its pension funding […]

Trans Mountain prep coming

EDMONTON — The head of Kinder Morgan Canada says work is to resume next month to prepare a route for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Ian Anderson says the company will secure, survey and prepare the right of way in coming months, and First Nations will monitor the work to look for traditional artifacts and […]

BC company facing charges

BLUE RIVER, B.C. — A wildlife tour company in Blue River, B.C., is facing charges for allegedly putting food out to attract bears. Chris Doyle, deputy chief of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said in a conference call Thursday that the service began its investigation last August after receiving a complaint. Doyle said charges were […]

Burnaby helping renters

BURNABY, B.C. — The City of Burnaby says it will be the first in British Columbia to take advantage of the province’s new rental zoning laws. The city says in a news release that it will begin implementation of a rental zoning bylaw aimed at maintaining rental stock at affordable rates. On Monday, Burnaby council […]

Other B.C. casino strike ends

COQUITLAM, B.C. — Workers at the Hard Rock Casino in Metro Vancouver have voted in favour of a new contract, ending a 10-week strike. More than 400 employees of the Coquitlam casino walked out on May 11 to back demands for improved wages and hours of work. The employees are members of the BC Government […]

Shaw workers vote to strike

A union representing about 500 employees of Shaw Communications in British Columbia says they have voted in favour of strike action by a large majority. The 98 per cent of votes cast in favour of a strike at United Steelworkers Local 1944 provides a clear mandate, said Union chief negotiator Lee Riggs in a statement. […]