Thursday, January 1, 2026
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

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province
The B.C. Wildfire Service website says 13,935 square kilometres have been burned since April 1, surpassing the previous record of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018. But there are still months to go in this year's season and the service says there are almost 400 fires currently burning.

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization
Delta Police Chief Constable Neil Dubord says in the letter that while he agrees with "the underlying principles of decriminalization," an early evaluation shows that the policy has not led to "the desired outcome." Dubord says there were 791 overdose deaths in the province between then and May, which "closely mirrors" the 772 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

Inmate dies in police custody

Inmate dies in police custody
Correctional officials say an inmate has died while in the custody of a prison in Abbotsford, B-C. The Pacific Institution says in a statement that Douglas Gordon Martin died on July 14.

Inmate dies in police custody

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa
Coquitlam RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing man, 36-year old Syed Mustafa. Syed was last seen early June camping near Twin Islands, Belcarra British Columbia. Syed’s family and Police are concerned for Syeds’s well-being.   

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police
A 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman face charges after a series of shootings in Edmonton over the weekend that police say were random.  Edmonton police say Tariq Sayed Mohammed Aman and Neanna Wuttunee jointly face a total of 35 charges.

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police

Mission homicide victim identified

Mission homicide victim identified
B-C's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the victim is Jesse Kennedy, who lived in the city, and police are releasing his identity in an effort to help solve the case. Kennedy was found injured in the 325-hundred block of Lougheed Highway on July 13 just before 6 p-m, and died after being taken to hospital.  

Mission homicide victim identified