Business

B.C. government program spending, in millions, from 2016 to 2021. (B.C. finance ministry)

B.C.’s tax take continued to climb during COVID-19 pandemic year

Federal billions offset loss in fees, licence revenues

B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)

B.C. budget deficit $5.5 billion, less than half last year’s forecast

Province’s COVID-19 spending tops $10 billion for 2020-21

B.C. Investment Management Corporation CEO Gordon Fyfe has led the corporation to achieve positive returns for the province’s civil service pension plan. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Record return: Victoria-based company sets new B.C. standard for pension investment

B.C. Investment Management Corporation gained 16.5 per cent in 2020 for civil service pension plan

Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)

B.C. COVID-19 fund supports 83 tourist attractions, bus companies

Butchart Gardens, Hells Gate, water parks among recipients

Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)
B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)

Record B.C. lumber profits should go to wildfire fight, Horgan says

Prices have plummeted from May peak, supply tightening

B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)
Oceanside Air Ltd. owner Pavel Novak shows off one his twin-engine Seneca planes. (Michael Briones photo)

New air charter service offered at Qualicum Beach airport

Owner is a former KD Air maintenance mechanic

Oceanside Air Ltd. owner Pavel Novak shows off one his twin-engine Seneca planes. (Michael Briones photo)
Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)

Tseshaht First Nation re-opens Broken Group Islands with refreshed Beach Keepers Program

To help sustain the program, tour operators are encouraged to implement a $10 per day per guest fee

Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)
The Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Bank of Canada names new deputy governor, ‘temporarily’ expanding governing council

Sharon Kozicki will take on the role on Aug. 2 after serving eight years as an adviser

The Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 in October

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A house is displayed for sale in a new housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Canadian home prices increased in June to mark the largest 12-month gain on record as prices climbed in all 11 markets, says the Teranet National Bank composite price index. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canadian home prices up 16% in June for largest 12-month gain on record, says index

Halifax led with prices climbing 30.8 per cent over the past year

A house is displayed for sale in a new housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Canadian home prices increased in June to mark the largest 12-month gain on record as prices climbed in all 11 markets, says the Teranet National Bank composite price index. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)

Credit union donates $50K to support B.C. wildfire victims

First West is also encouraging its members to donate to the cause

(Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)
Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)

Eyes in the sky have a future for B.C. farmland, minister says

Satellite surveillance of agricultural use stopped after protests

Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)
Pedestrians walk past Shell Canada’s headquarters before a news conference in Calgary on August 26, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Shell, British Columbia, Ottawa team up on clean energy centre

The Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy is expected to be open by this fall

Pedestrians walk past Shell Canada’s headquarters before a news conference in Calgary on August 26, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Adrienne Burrows shows one of the cupcakes that she sells every Tuesday at the Summer by the Sea market at the Parksville Visitor Centre. (Submitted photos)

Parksville home-based businesses welcome ‘Summer by the Sea’ Tuesday street market

2021 events take place at city’s visitor centre

Adrienne Burrows shows one of the cupcakes that she sells every Tuesday at the Summer by the Sea market at the Parksville Visitor Centre. (Submitted photos)
Cranes guide sections of Coastal Gaslink pipeline into a 1.3 km tunnel under the Murray River in northeast B.C., June 2021. (Coastal Gaslink video)

Coastal Gaslink pipeline nears halfway mark with B.C. river crossing

Tunnel under Murray River one of longest in North America

Cranes guide sections of Coastal Gaslink pipeline into a 1.3 km tunnel under the Murray River in northeast B.C., June 2021. (Coastal Gaslink video)
Real estate for sale signs are shown in Oakville, Ont. on Saturday, Dec.1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan

CREA reports home sales down 8.4% month-over-month in June

CREA said 73,402 homes were listed in June, down 0.7 per cent from 73,912 in May

Real estate for sale signs are shown in Oakville, Ont. on Saturday, Dec.1, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem takes part in a news conference at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Bank of Canada cuts growth forecast for 2021, reduces bond-buying target

Bank now expects growth of 4.6 per cent in 2022, up from its earlier forecast of 3.7 per cent

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem takes part in a news conference at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The pride flag flies following a raising ceremony on Parliament Hill Wednesday June 1, 2016 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Businesses in Canadian, American gay villages struggle amid pandemic: study

Most businesses in the villages fell under the retail, restaurant and entertainment categories

The pride flag flies following a raising ceremony on Parliament Hill Wednesday June 1, 2016 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A Porter airlines flight makes its final approach as it lands at the airport Tuesday July 2, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Porter could shake up Canadian airline industry with jet expansion from Pearson airport

Porter has placed a firm order for 30 planes and 50 purchase right options

A Porter airlines flight makes its final approach as it lands at the airport Tuesday July 2, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A farm tractor and baler sit in a hay field on a misty morning, ready for a day’s harvest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. to ease restrictions on secondary farm homes – in 2022

Agricultural Land Commission approval won’t be needed

A farm tractor and baler sit in a hay field on a misty morning, ready for a day’s harvest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh