economy

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters at the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on September 13, 2022. When Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne gets in front a microphone these days to talk about electrifying Canada’s auto industry, he has a favourite line to sum up his efforts to attract global investment. “Not everyone in the world wakes up thinking about Canada,” he says. His job, as he sees it, is to change that. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks to reporters at the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on September 13, 2022. When Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne gets in front a microphone these days to talk about electrifying Canada’s auto industry, he has a favourite line to sum up his efforts to attract global investment. “Not everyone in the world wakes up thinking about Canada,” he says. His job, as he sees it, is to change that. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
People shop for produce and seafood at the Granville Island Market in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

RBC economists say recession could arrive as early as Q1 of next year

Federal budget officer projects considerably slower economy, declining federal deficit

People shop for produce and seafood at the Granville Island Market in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Terry Teegee, regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations speaks at a meeting between Canada's premiers and Indigenous leaders at the Songhees Wellness Centre on July 1. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

New First Nations centre coming to B.C. to give economic development guidance

Centre will look at how to better benefit from sectors such as forestry, mining and natural gas

Terry Teegee, regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations speaks at a meeting between Canada's premiers and Indigenous leaders at the Songhees Wellness Centre on July 1. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A person walks their dog past the storefront of a Spirit Halloween on Avenue Road, in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions curbing Halloween festivities, some Canadians may be willing to open their wallets wide for a trendy costume or candy for trick-or-treaters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

‘Huge demand’: Supply issues could haunt Halloween amid trick-or-treating rebound

Canadians expected to pounce on the holiday after a couple years of subdued celebrations

A person walks their dog past the storefront of a Spirit Halloween on Avenue Road, in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions curbing Halloween festivities, some Canadians may be willing to open their wallets wide for a trendy costume or candy for trick-or-treaters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
A pedestrian walks past a Deloitte sign in downtown Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. A tight labour market and elevated savings during the pandemic will cushion the impact of a recession on Canadians, says a new report from Deloitte. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Labour shortage, pandemic savings to soften blow of short-lived recession: report

Deloitte forecasts Canada will enter a short-lived recession by the end of the year

A pedestrian walks past a Deloitte sign in downtown Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. A tight labour market and elevated savings during the pandemic will cushion the impact of a recession on Canadians, says a new report from Deloitte. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Heavy machinery clears up washed-up buildings and rubble in the harbour in Burnt Island, Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. Fiona left a trail of destruction across much of Atlantic Canada, stretching from Nova Scotia’s eastern mainland to Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and southwestern Newfoundland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Newfoundland fishers face livelihood questions after Fiona storm damage

Fiona’s path of destruction through Atlantic Canada heavily damaged the fishing industry

Heavy machinery clears up washed-up buildings and rubble in the harbour in Burnt Island, Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. Fiona left a trail of destruction across much of Atlantic Canada, stretching from Nova Scotia’s eastern mainland to Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and southwestern Newfoundland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Wendy McCulloch (third from the left), Executive Director of Community Futures British Columbia, and Naina Sloan (third from the right), Vice President of programs and partners with the Pacific Economic Development Canada, with representatives of the communities receiving a portion of the funding. (Zachary Delaney)

Feds kick in $5.5 million to help B.C. mitigate economic effects of disasters

Funds given to Community Futures British Columbia to distribute to small business and non-profits

Wendy McCulloch (third from the left), Executive Director of Community Futures British Columbia, and Naina Sloan (third from the right), Vice President of programs and partners with the Pacific Economic Development Canada, with representatives of the communities receiving a portion of the funding. (Zachary Delaney)
A server brings food to a table as people dine at a restaurant in Vancouver, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Tipping fatigue is hitting consumers as requests for gratuities increase and spread to new businesses amid the rise of automated payment machines and preset tip suggestions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A server brings food to a table as people dine at a restaurant in Vancouver, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Tipping fatigue is hitting consumers as requests for gratuities increase and spread to new businesses amid the rise of automated payment machines and preset tip suggestions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Finance Minister Selina Robinson talks about financial aid due to inflation and the cost-of-living increases and support during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of the current fiscal year show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. says financial outlook improving, forecasts $706 million surplus

Finance minister presented province’s first quarterly report Sept. 12

Finance Minister Selina Robinson talks about financial aid due to inflation and the cost-of-living increases and support during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of the current fiscal year show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Bank of Canada is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday Sept. 6, 2022. The Bank of Canada is expected to announce it will be raising its key interest rate today, making it the fifth consecutive increase this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Bank of Canada raises key interest rate by 0.75%, says rates likely need to go higher

Expected lift brings the bank’s key rate target to 3.25 per cent

The Bank of Canada is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday Sept. 6, 2022. The Bank of Canada is expected to announce it will be raising its key interest rate today, making it the fifth consecutive increase this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Statistics Canada’s offices at Tunney’s Pasture in Ottawa are shown on March 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Economy grew by annual rate of 3.3% in second quarter, Statistics Canada says

According to the federal agency, real GDP grew by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter

Statistics Canada’s offices at Tunney’s Pasture in Ottawa are shown on March 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Bank buildings are photographed in Toronto’s financial district on June 27, 2018. As inflation tops eight per cent, anyone with money in the bank is seeing their savings drip away at the fastest rate on record because deposit interest rates, still largely languishing at around one per cent, haven’t kept up. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Canadians’ savings are slowly dripping away as deposit interest lags far behind inflation

“They will lose money. The value of their savings is decreasing.”

Bank buildings are photographed in Toronto’s financial district on June 27, 2018. As inflation tops eight per cent, anyone with money in the bank is seeing their savings drip away at the fastest rate on record because deposit interest rates, still largely languishing at around one per cent, haven’t kept up. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
The Elkview SRF is right in the middle of Teck’s Elkview operations near Sparwood, B.C., which is fully operational. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Teck’s Elk Valley coal mines make bank in Q2

The company’s coal division accounted for $2.5 billion of Teck’s $3.2 billion in quarterly gross profits

The Elkview SRF is right in the middle of Teck’s Elkview operations near Sparwood, B.C., which is fully operational. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
A man pumps gas in Montreal, Friday, March 4, 2022. Statistics Canada will release consumer price index data for June on Wednesday, a week after the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by a full percentage point as it continues its battle against high inflation.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Economists predict inflation climbed even higher in June amid ‘reopening effect’

Statistics Canada set to release latest inflation data on July 20

A man pumps gas in Montreal, Friday, March 4, 2022. Statistics Canada will release consumer price index data for June on Wednesday, a week after the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by a full percentage point as it continues its battle against high inflation.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Sumeru Chatterjee, who served as head of content and community for Vancouver-based education technology company Thinkific before he was laid off in April with about 100 others, poses for a photograph in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian tech talent still in demand, despite layoffs and recession predictions

Some companies increasing benefits and modernizing offices to try and draw in sought-after talent

Sumeru Chatterjee, who served as head of content and community for Vancouver-based education technology company Thinkific before he was laid off in April with about 100 others, poses for a photograph in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Bank of Canada building is seen on Wellington Street in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Economists expect Bank of Canada to hike key interest rate by 0.75% on Wednesday

Central bank aiming to bring soaring inflation back down to two per cent target

The Bank of Canada building is seen on Wellington Street in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. GasBuddy’s head petroleum analyst says drivers should expect some relief at the pump heading into the end of July and start of August. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VIDEO: B.C. gas prices expected to drop below $2/litre mark: analyst

Global prices dropping as economy slows, threatens recession

People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. GasBuddy’s head petroleum analyst says drivers should expect some relief at the pump heading into the end of July and start of August. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A shopper wipes down a handle as they select a cart at an Ikea furniture store in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Canadian retailers are struggling with higher shipping costs as couriers tack hefty fuel surcharges onto shipping rates to recoup record gas prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A shopper wipes down a handle as they select a cart at an Ikea furniture store in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Canadian retailers are struggling with higher shipping costs as couriers tack hefty fuel surcharges onto shipping rates to recoup record gas prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Bank of Canada analyst Farid Salji speaks to business owners about counterfeit bills at Kelowna RCMP headquarters. (Photo/Kelowna Cap News)

Education urged for B.C. businesses in battling bogus bills

‘We have materials designed for everybody, and everything is absolutely free’

Bank of Canada analyst Farid Salji speaks to business owners about counterfeit bills at Kelowna RCMP headquarters. (Photo/Kelowna Cap News)
Gas hit the listed price of $2.19.9 at one Vernon service station on 25th Avenue at 43rd Street Thursday, June 2. (Roger Knox/Morning Star).

Strategic support for B.C. residents needed as central bank works on inflation: experts

Economist says to expect food prices to stay high for another year

Gas hit the listed price of $2.19.9 at one Vernon service station on 25th Avenue at 43rd Street Thursday, June 2. (Roger Knox/Morning Star).