Sunday, December 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

B.C. growth forecast drops to one per cent for 2023, but deficit projection improves

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2023 04:38 PM
  • B.C. growth forecast drops to one per cent for 2023, but deficit projection improves

British Columbia's economy is forecast to grow one per cent in 2023, a drop from the 1.2 per cent predicted earlier by the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry's second quarterly report also forecasts slower economic growth for next year of 0.7 per cent.

But the budget's September deficit forecast of $6.7 billion has improved by $1.1 billion, with this year's deficit now projected at $5.6 billion.

The ministry says in a statement the province's economy is being impacted by slow growth globally and high interest rates in Canada.

It says employment growth has expanded by 1.4 per cent, while B.C.'s population grew by three per cent.

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy says people's budgets have been squeezed by global inflation, while high interest rates are making the already high cost of buying or renting a home more expensive, but the government will continue supporting people by helping to ease the pressure of everyday costs. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Translink boosting bus service as of September

Translink boosting bus service as of September
Metro Vancouver’s transit authority is boosting bus services this fall as students return to schools across the region. TransLink says it will increase service levels on 22 bus routes starting on September 4, in addition to introducing a new extension for route 44 directly linking West Vancouver and U-B-C.  

Translink boosting bus service as of September

Arrest in Seawall assaults

Arrest in Seawall assaults
Police in Vancouver says a man has been arrested for assaulting people on the city's seawall this weekend.  The department says on social media that officers responded to reports of the attacks Saturday.

Arrest in Seawall assaults

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds
A new study has found that previous infection with an Omicron variant of COVID-19 did not protect seniors in long-term care and retirement homes from getting reinfected within a few months. Senior author and McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish says the study results are surprising because they challenge the current thinking about hybrid immunity. 

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary
The BC Wildfire Service says weather across British Columbia will be impacted by a hurricane in Southern California, challenging firefighters already battling hundreds of fires that forced 30,000 people from their homes and caused a provincial state of emergency.

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver
An air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver remains in place due to wildfire smoke. The Metro Vancouver Regional District says people should postpone or reduce outdoor physical activity particularly if they have underlying conditions related to breathing.

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver

Man dies in Hope shooting

Man dies in Hope shooting
The province's homicide investigation team has been called in after a man was fatally shot in Hope. R-C-M-P say they were called just before 3 a.m. on Sunday and found a 28-year-old man who had been shot and killed.

Man dies in Hope shooting