economy

Heavy equipment is shown at the Cheetah Resources Nechalacho Project near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in an undated handout image. The country’s first rare earth mine has started delivering concentrated ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ BILLBRADENPHOTO / HO-CHEETAH RESOURCES

First Canadian rare earth mine starts shipping concentrate from N.W.T.

Minerals critical for computers, wind turbines and electric cars

Heavy equipment is shown at the Cheetah Resources Nechalacho Project near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in an undated handout image. The country’s first rare earth mine has started delivering concentrated ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ BILLBRADENPHOTO / HO-CHEETAH RESOURCES
Bill Singer checks for proof of vaccination at the doors of the Rumrunner Pub, which he owns and manages in Sidney. His decision to keep the vaccination requirement in place has sparked online criticism but also earned praise from customers. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island pub still checking vaccine passports getting support from patrons

Owner Bill Singer thought other establishments would make the same decision

Bill Singer checks for proof of vaccination at the doors of the Rumrunner Pub, which he owns and manages in Sidney. His decision to keep the vaccination requirement in place has sparked online criticism but also earned praise from customers. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing in future of mass timber with 4 new structures, long-term action plan

Province looks to be leading producer in carbon-capturing material

B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)
A younger population will shift Nanaimo’s economy over the next 10 years, forcing housing, services and amenities to keep pace, predicts the city’s latest state of the Nanaimo economy report. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s population starting to trend younger, says state of economy report

Pandemic and housing market lead to swings in construction and labour

A younger population will shift Nanaimo’s economy over the next 10 years, forcing housing, services and amenities to keep pace, predicts the city’s latest state of the Nanaimo economy report. (News Bulletin file photo)
Shipping containers are shown at the Port of Montreal, Sunday, April 25, 2021.Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus narrowed in February as imports rose at a faster pace than exports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Canada posted smaller merchandise trade surplus in February, StatCan reports

By country, imports from China had the strongest growth by far, up 26.9 per cent

Shipping containers are shown at the Port of Montreal, Sunday, April 25, 2021.Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus narrowed in February as imports rose at a faster pace than exports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Temporary foreign workers from Mexico plant strawberries on a farm in Mirabel, Que., on May 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Facing labour shortages, Liberals loosen rules on foreign workers ahead of budget

Changes announced Monday will allow employers to hire foreign workers for more low-wage jobs

Temporary foreign workers from Mexico plant strawberries on a farm in Mirabel, Que., on May 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Auto worker Angely Labo works in the body shop producing the Chevrolet Silverado, at the GM Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont. A new report co-authored by the UVic-based Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions found Canada has a narrow window to insert itself as a leader in making larger electric vehicles. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)

UVic institute report finds Canada must act now to prosper in net-zero marketplace

Coordinated effort needed as country risks losing opportunities to trading partners

Auto worker Angely Labo works in the body shop producing the Chevrolet Silverado, at the GM Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont. A new report co-authored by the UVic-based Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions found Canada has a narrow window to insert itself as a leader in making larger electric vehicles. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
A Canadian Pacific locomotive. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Surrey Board of Trade ask feds to declare rail essential service as CP strike halts

‘Surrey’s agricultural exports are a critical piece of food security for all of Canada,’ board CEO Anita Huberman says

A Canadian Pacific locomotive. (File photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
FILE - Farmers harvest with their combines in a wheat field near the village Tbilisskaya, Russia, July 21, 2021. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is warning that Russia’s war in Ukraine will disrupt commerce and clog up supply chains, slashing economic growth and pushing prices sharply higher around the globe. In a grim assessment out Thursday, March 17, 2022, the 38-country OECD said that over the next year the conflict would reduce the broadest measure of economic output by 1.08% worldwide. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv, File)

War in Ukraine will take global economic toll, group warns

OECD: conflict to reduce gross domestic product by 1.08% worldwide, 1.4% in the 19 Euro countries

FILE - Farmers harvest with their combines in a wheat field near the village Tbilisskaya, Russia, July 21, 2021. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is warning that Russia’s war in Ukraine will disrupt commerce and clog up supply chains, slashing economic growth and pushing prices sharply higher around the globe. In a grim assessment out Thursday, March 17, 2022, the 38-country OECD said that over the next year the conflict would reduce the broadest measure of economic output by 1.08% worldwide. (AP Photo/Vitaly Timkiv, File)
Ravi Kahlon, B.C. minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation on March 15, during a round of meetings about the provincial Stronger BC Economic Plan. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

B.C. outlines recovery plan for northern communities

Better access to internet and skills training among promises to northern communities

Ravi Kahlon, B.C. minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation on March 15, during a round of meetings about the provincial Stronger BC Economic Plan. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem participates in a media availability at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Bank of Canada hikes key interest rate for first time since pandemic began

Central bank increases key rate by a quarter of a percentage point in bid to help fight inflation

Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem participates in a media availability at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A worker carries wood as a house under construction is shown in a subdivision in Beckwith, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Statistics Canada says Canadian economy grew 4.6% in 2021

Home construction, resales and renovations increased at near-record levels as country bounes back

A worker carries wood as a house under construction is shown in a subdivision in Beckwith, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Bank towers are shown from Bay Street in Toronto’s financial district, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Investors watching bank earnings that start this week will be keeping a keen eye on any hints at how the institutions will fare with the two big trends this year: rate hikes and inflation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan

Outlook for interest rates, inflation are key trends as banks set to report earnings

The central banks of Canada and the U.S. are expected to start raising rates in March

Bank towers are shown from Bay Street in Toronto’s financial district, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Investors watching bank earnings that start this week will be keeping a keen eye on any hints at how the institutions will fare with the two big trends this year: rate hikes and inflation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan
People line up at the Toronto Premium Outlets mall on Black Friday for shopping sales during the COVID-19 pandemic in Milton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

November economy pushed Canada past pre-COVID level for first time in 2 years

Statistics Canada says economy grew 0.6% in November, decline expected to start 2022

People line up at the Toronto Premium Outlets mall on Black Friday for shopping sales during the COVID-19 pandemic in Milton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
People walk along Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal, Sunday, January 2, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. Some measures put in place by the Quebec government, including the closure of stores to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Statistics Canada says economy added 55,000 jobs in December, unemployment rate 5.9%

Numbers show lowest unemployment rate since before the pandemic

People walk along Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal, Sunday, January 2, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. Some measures put in place by the Quebec government, including the closure of stores to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site in Montreal, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. Ontario and Quebec are both reporting new COVID-19 case records today as Canadian provinces explore changing their isolation rules to keep health systems afloat amid an unprecedented wave of infections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Asking COVID-positive health workers to stay on the job sign of desperation: expert

Cases are surging across the country

People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site in Montreal, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. Ontario and Quebec are both reporting new COVID-19 case records today as Canadian provinces explore changing their isolation rules to keep health systems afloat amid an unprecedented wave of infections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Alicia Dempster poses for a photograph at her home in Stouffville, Ont., on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Dempster anticipated she’d return to her work in events after her maternity leave ended, but has yet to do so as a result of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Statistics show the ‘she-cession’ is over, but experts say not so fast

Many women still struggling to balance work and demands of family life

Alicia Dempster poses for a photograph at her home in Stouffville, Ont., on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Dempster anticipated she’d return to her work in events after her maternity leave ended, but has yet to do so as a result of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
The TV series Superman Lois strengthened the B.C. economy to the tune of $95 million, says Motion Picture Association – Canada. (Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. photo)

Superman TV series strengthened B.C. economy by $95M, says movie association

Superman & Lois filmed in Delta, Surrey and Richmond

The TV series Superman Lois strengthened the B.C. economy to the tune of $95 million, says Motion Picture Association – Canada. (Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. photo)
Statistics Canada’s offices at Tunny’s Pasture in Ottawa are shown on Friday, March 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Statistics Canada says GDP grew at 5.4% annual rate in Q3

Economy edged up by 0.1% in September

Statistics Canada’s offices at Tunny’s Pasture in Ottawa are shown on Friday, March 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Consider if you really need something before you buy it on Black Friday, says a professor from University of B.C. Pictured here, a person at a sale from Black Friday 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Consider need over deals when Black Friday bargain hunting, experts say

Don’t be ashamed to shop, but consider longtime usage, says UBC professor

Consider if you really need something before you buy it on Black Friday, says a professor from University of B.C. Pictured here, a person at a sale from Black Friday 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)