Monday, May 25, 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

B.C. introduces plan to target repeat offenders

B.C. introduces plan to target repeat offenders
The Opposition BC Liberals have been calling on the government to introduce tougher public safety measures, citing numerous violent crimes allegedly connected to people who were arrested and released, only to be involved in other violence shortly afterwards.

B.C. introduces plan to target repeat offenders

Trudeau comments on Orange Shirt Day holiday

Trudeau comments on Orange Shirt Day holiday
The federal government made the day a statutory holiday for its workers and federally regulated workplaces in 2021. The decision to do so is in response to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action.

Trudeau comments on Orange Shirt Day holiday

17 year old man stabbed on a bus in Surrey dies

17 year old man stabbed on a bus in Surrey dies
Police say it happened just before 9:30 Tuesday night. Investigators say the victim and his attacker had some sort of altercation while on the bus, not far from the King George SkyTrain station.

17 year old man stabbed on a bus in Surrey dies

Canadians feel less safe than pre-pandemic: poll

Canadians feel less safe than pre-pandemic: poll
Those in B.C. were most likely to say crime and violence are worse since the pandemic hit, at 72 per cent, while people in Quebec were least likely to say so, at 54 per cent. Quebecers were most likely to say things have not changed.

Canadians feel less safe than pre-pandemic: poll

Federal workers vote in favour of strike mandate

Federal workers vote in favour of strike mandate
The Public Service Alliance of Canada can now launch a strike anytime in the next 60 days — with national president Chris Aylward saying workers were prepared to strike as soon as Wednesday. Aylward said at a press conference Wednesday morning that bargaining for fair wages is top of mind, and members are prepared to strike for as long as it takes.

Federal workers vote in favour of strike mandate

Ozempic loophole may trap other drugs: pharmacists

Ozempic loophole may trap other drugs: pharmacists
Canadian Pharmacists Association vice-president of public affairs Joelle Walker said Americans buying cheaper Canadian drugs is nothing new. One of the main challenges, Walker said, is that there isn't a strong sense of the prevalence of mass U.S. buying of Canadian prescription drugs because the data isn't available.

Ozempic loophole may trap other drugs: pharmacists