Friday, May 22, 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

Beach stabbings among 1800 incidents over hot weekend: Vancouver Police

Beach stabbings among 1800 incidents over hot weekend: Vancouver Police
VPD officers responded to more than 1800 incidents between Friday and Monday, an increase of 36 per cent from the same time last year. That included 28 calls to the beaches, a 250 per cent increase from the same time last year.

Beach stabbings among 1800 incidents over hot weekend: Vancouver Police

Air quality advisory lifted for Vancouver

Air quality advisory lifted for Vancouver
The regional district had issued the advisory yesterday in response to high concentrations of ground-level ozone. The district says ground-level ozone is formed when pollution from burning fossil fuels reacts with sunlight.

Air quality advisory lifted for Vancouver

Stabbing in New Westminster leaves woman with serious injuries

Stabbing in New Westminster leaves woman with serious injuries
It happened last Thursday in the courtyard of a multi-family building, but the suspect had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. Police say the suspect was arrested yesterday and charges are pending.

Stabbing in New Westminster leaves woman with serious injuries

Surrey's school system infrastructure deemed crisis, with 400 portables in use

Surrey's school system infrastructure deemed crisis, with 400 portables in use
Surrey School District saw more than 2,200 new students enroll this past September, bringing the student population to over 78,0000. Based on population estimates, enrolment is projected to continue increasing at a rapid pace in almost every community. 

Surrey's school system infrastructure deemed crisis, with 400 portables in use

10 held for selling fake ayurvedic medicines in Delhi, Lucknow

10 held for selling fake ayurvedic medicines in Delhi, Lucknow
The accused were identified as Vikas Pal, Sonu Pal, Rahul Singh, Samar, Ugarsen Singh, Jitender Kumar Singh, Rohit Singh, Satish Singh, Rajesh Singh and Ashutosh Kumar. The official said that they have also recovered 42 mobile phones, nine laptops and inferior quality medicines and data of 'Hakim Suleman group'.

10 held for selling fake ayurvedic medicines in Delhi, Lucknow

B.C. casinos will require all to show government ID under self-exclusion program

B.C. casinos will require all to show government ID under self-exclusion program
The corporation says the measure will be rolled out this summer, with more details to be announced in coming weeks, including the implementation date. It says security staff will scan IDs that will be automatically checked against a list of people who are taking part in the Game Break self-exclusion program.

B.C. casinos will require all to show government ID under self-exclusion program