Thursday, May 21, 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

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC
The Ministry of Public Safety says Ottawa's funding will enhance 24-hour crisis hotlines run by the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. It says the province-wide crisis lines provide risk-assessment and safety planning services to those experiencing gender-based violence. 

Feds provide funds for gender based violence in BC

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam
While a 10-year-old girl was walking home from Panorama Heights Elementary school located at 1455 Johnson Street in Coquitlam, they were approached by two unknown adult females in a vehicle. The suspects asked the girl to get into the vehicle for treats. The girl ran away to a nearby Coquitlam City Bylaw officer for assistance.  

Attempted child luring in Coquitlam

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run
R-C-M-P say officers pulled over an stolen vehicle with four people inside. They say the occupants ran away when officers told them they were under arrest, including one man who was holding what was believed to be a weapon. 

Mounties in Kelowna notify IIO after police dog injures man on run

Flood warning for part of northwest B.C., other rivers rising as heat grips province

Flood warning for part of northwest B.C., other rivers rising as heat grips province
Flooding on the Skeena River could reach a 20-year high as early as Wednesday, the River Forecast Centre said. The ongoing hot weather is accelerating snowmelt across most of B.C., it said, estimating that the Bulkley River near Smithers could reach 10-year flow levels by Wednesday or Thursday.

Flood warning for part of northwest B.C., other rivers rising as heat grips province

Vancouver police say woman assaulted on busy beach by man claiming to be masseuse

Vancouver police say woman assaulted on busy beach by man claiming to be masseuse
The VPD says the suspect is a South Asian man with a medium build and was wearing a black hat, sunglasses, beige cargo shorts, and a white and blue striped shirt at the time of the alleged assault.

Vancouver police say woman assaulted on busy beach by man claiming to be masseuse

BC Hydro says power usage highest for May

BC Hydro says power usage highest for May
The record for the highest May peak hourly demand was set last night, as temperatures soared across much of the province. BC-Hydro says preliminary analysis found consumption reached almost 76-hundred megawatts as residents turned to air conditioners and fans in an attempt to cool off.

BC Hydro says power usage highest for May