Vancouver home sales fall
Home sales in Metro Vancouver fell more than 14 per cent below the 10-year average in February as buyers contended with stricter mortgage rules and higher interest rates, according to statistics released Thursday. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s data showed that 2,207 homes sold last month. That’s down nine per cent from the […]
BC Hydro rate freeze killed
The BC Utilities Commission has rejected the NDP government’s planned BC Hydro rate freeze and approved a three per cent increase for 2018. The commission announced its decision Thursday on the basis that the rate freeze would have not allowed BC Hydro to cover operating costs and would put the province’s 10-year rate plan at […]
MEC to drop Vista Outdoor
Mountain Equipment Co-op has decided to stop selling several outdoor equipment brands owned by Vista Outdoor Inc., which is also a gun manufacturer. MEC doesn’t sell guns, but had faced a petition calling on it to stop selling brands owned by Vista Outdoor because the U.S. company also develops and manufactures firearms similar to the […]
MEC weighs options
Mountain Equipment Co-op says it is evaluating different courses of action amid continued social media outcry that it stop selling brands connected to a major U.S. gun manufacturer. MEC says whatever decisions it makes will impact the brands it carries along with its financial health and ability to meet members’ needs. An online petition calling […]
New mining task force
The British Columbia government has appointed a 12-member task force of industry, Indigenous and labour leaders to measure the current state the provincial mining industry and to ensure its security. Mines Minister Michelle Mungall says the group will provide an economic analysis of the mining sector and offer the recommendations to ensure job security for the industry […]
B.C. boosts rent, child care
The B.C. government says it’s giving a financial break to young adults who have spent time in government care. Those young adults will now get more support for rent, child care and health care, while they go back to school or attend a rehabilitation, vocational or approved life skills program. The changes come as part […]
Wine truce tentative
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says, “I think it is fair to say that in a small way today B.C. blinked,” Notley told reporters at the legislature in Edmonton. “B.C. is stepping back from the brink and abiding by the law, and this is a good thing.” Notley made the statements after the Alberta government accepted […]
Wine ban lifted
The Alberta government has accepted an olive branch from British Columbia and is suspending its ban on the province’s wine in an ongoing dispute over the Trans Mountain pipeline. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley took the step after B.C.’s John Horgan said his government will ask the courts if it has the right to protect its […]
BC tourism still strong
British Columbia continues to be a big draw for tourists and business people from around the world. New numbers from Statistics Canada show a three per cent uptick in visitor arrivals in December 2017 over the same month last year. In total, over 5.7 million overnight visitors came to the province last year – an […]
Pipeline polarizes Canada
A new poll reveals Canadians are virtually split on the current dispute between B.C. and Alberta over pipelines and wine. The Angus Reid Institute survey says 50 per cent of Canadians are in favour of the pipeline and 50 per cent are opposed, nationally. Province by province is slightly different not surprisingly Albertans are gung-ho […]
