economy

Workers load off boxes containing frozen beefs from a truck for a restaurant at the shopping mall in Beijing on Feb. 27, 2023. Chinese economic officials expressed confidence Monday, March 6, 2023 they can meet this year’s growth target of "around 5%" by generating 12 million new jobs and encouraging consumer spending following the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Chinese planners promise 12 million jobs, economic rebound

Chinese economic officials expressed confidence Monday they can meet this year’s growth…

Workers load off boxes containing frozen beefs from a truck for a restaurant at the shopping mall in Beijing on Feb. 27, 2023. Chinese economic officials expressed confidence Monday, March 6, 2023 they can meet this year’s growth target of "around 5%" by generating 12 million new jobs and encouraging consumer spending following the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau has called on government to launch a pilot project for a four-day workweek without any changes in pay. (Black Press Media file photo)

Should B.C. move to a 4-day work week? A look inside the debate

Provincial minister of labour Harry Bains says there no plans to change existing labour laws

BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau has called on government to launch a pilot project for a four-day workweek without any changes in pay. (Black Press Media file photo)
Fiona Famulak, chief executive officer of the BC Chamber of Commerce, is calling the provincial budget a ‘missed opportunity’ to help address the costs of doing business in B.C.

B.C. new ‘C-’ budget smacked by province’s top business organizations

Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, BC Chamber of Commerce lament lack of support

Fiona Famulak, chief executive officer of the BC Chamber of Commerce, is calling the provincial budget a ‘missed opportunity’ to help address the costs of doing business in B.C.
Fiona Famulak, chief executive officer of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, is calling on the provincial government to take “urgent” and “decisive” actions to cut the cost of doing business in B.C. (Photo courtesy of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce).

Health tax changes, expedited permitting top B.C. Chamber of Commerce’s wish list

CEO Fiona Famulak calls on government to raise EHT threshold, cut permitting times

Fiona Famulak, chief executive officer of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, is calling on the provincial government to take “urgent” and “decisive” actions to cut the cost of doing business in B.C. (Photo courtesy of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce).
This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)

Plans to fix B.C.’s labour shortage are good – but not bold enough: economist

Rick Cotton says B.C. needs to raise its labour participation force

This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)
The provincial government forecasts more than one million jobs to open up with the next decade. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

B.C. needs to fill more than 1 million jobs within 10 years: report

Latest B.C. Labour Market Outlook says immigration needed as retirements, economy will fuel demand

The provincial government forecasts more than one million jobs to open up with the next decade. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)
Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It will become a paid statutory holiday in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. making National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid stat holiday

Provincial legislature passed first reading of new legislation Tuesday morning (Feb. 7)

Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It will become a paid statutory holiday in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)
People shop for produce at the Granville Island Market in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Canada’s inflation rate was up 8.1 per cent in June compared with a year ago, its largest yearly change since January 1983. Statistics Canada will release its November reading of gross domestic product this morning.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian economy grew slightly in November, expected to slow further

High interest rates already showing signs of slowing spending

People shop for produce at the Granville Island Market in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Canada’s inflation rate was up 8.1 per cent in June compared with a year ago, its largest yearly change since January 1983. Statistics Canada will release its November reading of gross domestic product this morning.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
TransAlta wind turbines are shown at a wind farm near Pincher Creek, Alta., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The rural municipality, located between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge, is the poster child for Alberta’s renewable energy boom. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta landowners fear repeat of orphan well crisis as renewable energy booms

Many small municipalities, not oil companies were the ones left hurting last time

TransAlta wind turbines are shown at a wind farm near Pincher Creek, Alta., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The rural municipality, located between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge, is the poster child for Alberta’s renewable energy boom. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Vancouver will start charging a new hotel tax to help cover the costs of hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)

7-year-long Vancouver hotel tax to start in February to help pay for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Provincial statement suggests tax would be in place until 2030, so four years after tournament

Vancouver will start charging a new hotel tax to help cover the costs of hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)
Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault speaks to the media at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton during the second day of meetings at Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Fiscal room tightening as economy teeters, associate finance minister says

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered an economic update to the cabinet Tuesday

Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault speaks to the media at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton during the second day of meetings at Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
A provincial promise of $50 million holds the promise of making use of low-value wood that would otherwise by burned. (Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services).

Province pumps $50-million into increasing fibre supply in B.C.

Premier David Eby announced the funding Thursday

A provincial promise of $50 million holds the promise of making use of low-value wood that would otherwise by burned. (Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services).
The Bank of Canada is shown in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The Bank of Canada will release its business outlook and consumer expectations surveys this morning.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

More businesses expect sales to slip as high inflation, rates weigh on spending: BoC

72 per cent of consumers expect a recession in the months ahead

The Bank of Canada is shown in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The Bank of Canada will release its business outlook and consumer expectations surveys this morning.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Commuters wait to take the subway at Ossington Station in Toronto on Friday, June 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Public transit struggling to lure back riders amid deficits, rising costs of living

Many transit systems hiking fares in attempt to cover their own pandemic losses

Commuters wait to take the subway at Ossington Station in Toronto on Friday, June 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
FILE - Container cranes at a port in New Jersey appear behind the Statue of Liberty, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in New York. The global economy will come “perilously close” to a recession this year, led by weaker growth in all the world’s top economies — the United States, Europe and China — the World Bank warned Tuesday.(AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

World Bank warning: Global economy is at risk of recession

Development funding institution forecasts third-weakest annual expansion in 30 years

FILE - Container cranes at a port in New Jersey appear behind the Statue of Liberty, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in New York. The global economy will come “perilously close” to a recession this year, led by weaker growth in all the world’s top economies — the United States, Europe and China — the World Bank warned Tuesday.(AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
A new home is displayed for sale in a new housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Prospective buyers have lamented the torrid pace Canada’s real estate market has moved at in recent years, but many feel 2023 may be the year their luck changes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Homebuyers hope ‘patience pays off’ as prices drop, recession predictions loom

Drop in home prices offset by high interest rates, so far

A new home is displayed for sale in a new housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Prospective buyers have lamented the torrid pace Canada’s real estate market has moved at in recent years, but many feel 2023 may be the year their luck changes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, on September 15, 2021. Kahlon announced a new economic diversification funding program on Nov. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

New economic diversification fund launched for rural, forest-dependent B.C. communities

Up to $33M available to communities, First Nations, not-for-profits

Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, on September 15, 2021. Kahlon announced a new economic diversification funding program on Nov. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem says the country’s economic slowdown will impact low income earners the most. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Slowdown will impact low-income earners most, says Bank of Canada governor

Tiff Macklem spoke at conference on diversity, equity Monday

Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem says the country’s economic slowdown will impact low income earners the most. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Job losses will rise but won’t reach levels seen in past economic downturns: BoC

Slowdown necessary to halt inflation, says Bank of Canada governor

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland arrives for a news conference before tabling the Fall Fiscal Update in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Five things you need to know about the Liberals’ fall economic update

The federal Liberals unveiled their fall economic update Thursday — a 92-page…

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland arrives for a news conference before tabling the Fall Fiscal Update in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang