Canada’s key interest rate will end 2011 unchanged.   The Bank of Canada (BoC) left its policy rate at 1.00 percent this week, as anticipated.   In a statement, the Bank said European economic performance will be worse than expected, Canadian and United States growth are “slightly” better than expected, and inflation will “ease.” It […]

B.C.’s deficit is now projected to rise by $313 million to $3.1 billion by the end of the fiscal year because of lower revenues, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced in Victoria on Monday. “While British Columbia is still expected to continue to outperform most other North American economies, we expect revenues to decline and we […]

Members of the federal NDP B.C. Caucus are calling for stronger action by the federal government to protect Canadian citizens affected by a series of measures undertaken by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to US law, anyone who was born in the US is required to file US tax returns even though […]

The B.C. Economic Forecast Council has lowered its growth projections for the province this year and next in light of the worsening global economy. On average, the council expects B.C.’s GDP growth to be 2.2 per cent in 2011, down from its 2.7 per cent forecast in January of this year. The council also predicts […]

The sawmill in Grand Forks will be getting an overhaul over the next year-and-a-half as International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) pumps $24 million into the region.  The company’s announcement came last Wednesday, Nov. 2 when general manager Andrew Horahan unveiled their decision to invest $19 million in Grand Forks and $5 million in the Castlegar […]

 At its meeting Monday, Interfor’s Board of Directors approved a $24-million capital plan to upgrade the Company’s Grand Forks and Castlegar sawmills. The plan involves the installation of a new small log line at Grand Forks to replace the existing two-line facility, along with funds to complete the installation of an automated lumber grading system. […]

The NDP is demanding BC Hydro stop paying lavish executive bonuses, following an auditor general’s report that revealed that the Crown corporation actually ran a $249 million deficit last year, the CBC reports. NDP leader Adrian Dix says at a time when Hydro is looking at ramping up rates for customers, the current bonus system […]

B.C.’s minimum wage will increase to $9.50 on Tuesday, Nov. 1. At the same time, the minimum wage rate for liquor servers will increase to $8.75. This is the second increase to the minimum wage this year, and follows the announcment to increase minimum wage in three stages to $10.25 by May 1, 2012. Non-hourly […]

Boss Power Corp. surrendered its uranium exploration and mining rights to the Province of B.C. for $30 million this week.  The negotiated settlement comes after Boss Power launched a law suit in 2009 after the province announced a prohibition against uranium exploration and development in 2008. The agreement gives the Crown the mineral rights to […]

Nelson has gone international once again. Los Angeles Times staff writer Chris Reynolds made a stop in the Heritage city recently to give a Coles Notes version to Californians of life north of the 49th parallel Reynolds made the holiday trek from Los Angeles with his family to drink a little hemp ale, sample some […]