Business

PartnerStack co-founders (left to right) Luke Swanek, Jon Mendes, Neil Chudleigh and Bryn Jones are shown in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Canadian companies seeing venture capital funding boom, interest in fintechs high

About US$2.1 billion was raised across 197 deals in the first quarter of 2021

Farmgate sales of meat have been restricted in B.C. since new federal rules took effect in 2001. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. issuing new farmgate licences to allow meat sales this fall

Health rules restrict sales to local regional districts only

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. 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. 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

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)
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)
Travellers will be able to fly from a private dock at Eldorado Resort Marina to downtown Vancouver on a seaplane starting July 23. (Contributed/Eldorado Resort)

Vancouver to Kelowna seaplane service begins this week

Flights board in downtown Vancouver, land at private dock of Kelowna resort

Travellers will be able to fly from a private dock at Eldorado Resort Marina to downtown Vancouver on a seaplane starting July 23. (Contributed/Eldorado Resort)
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
South Surrey interior designer Madelaine Sloback and her husband are doing a full renovation of their new home – and documenting the process through a new YouTube video series. (YouTube screengrab)

South Surrey interior designer documents home renovation through YouTube series

Madeleine Sloback and husband renovating 1,600 sq.-ft. rancher after move from Vancouver

South Surrey interior designer Madelaine Sloback and her husband are doing a full renovation of their new home – and documenting the process through a new YouTube video series. (YouTube screengrab)
(From left to right) MP Brad Vis, PowerWood managing director Jake Power, MLA Kelli Paddon and District of Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger prepare to cut the ribbon to celebrate PowerWood’s grand opening in Agassiz on Wednesday, July 7. See more photos online at www.agassizharrisonobserver.com. (Adam Louis/Observer)

PHOTOS: PowerWood’s grand opening celebrated in Agassiz

The company was established in Coquitlam in 1995

(From left to right) MP Brad Vis, PowerWood managing director Jake Power, MLA Kelli Paddon and District of Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger prepare to cut the ribbon to celebrate PowerWood’s grand opening in Agassiz on Wednesday, July 7. See more photos online at www.agassizharrisonobserver.com. (Adam Louis/Observer)
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