Sunday, June 7, 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

More health investment needs results: Trudeau

More health investment needs results: Trudeau
The meetings in Vancouver are the first time all of Canada's health ministers have gathered in person since 2018. The premiers met in July, when they asked the federal government to increase health transfers to 35 per cent, up from what they said was 22 per cent funding.  

More health investment needs results: Trudeau

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day
Strong winds continue to buffet parts of coastal B.C. and the central Interior, packing gusts of at least 110 kilometres per hour along the north and central coasts, pushing wind chill factors in Terrace and elsewhere to -20 or lower.

Wind, snow hit parts of B.C. for another day

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner
The service says 171 people died of toxic drugs in September, bringing the total for the year to 1,644, the largest number ever recorded for the first nine months of a calendar year.

Relentless toll for overdose deaths: BC Coroner

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey
Immigrants who arrived in Canada over the past five years had an employment rate of 70.7 per cent, a higher rate than October 2019, pre-pandemic, the Labour Force Survey data 2022 released by Statistics Canada said.

Immigrants successful at finding jobs in Canada: Survey

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week
The meeting comes after Canada's premiers met in Victoria last July, where they asked Ottawa to boost the Canada Health Transfer, the money each jurisdiction gets for health care, to 35 per cent, up from what they said amounts to 22 per cent.

Health ministers meeting in B.C. this week

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster
The new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch coaster will occupy the previous location of the retired Corkscrew Coaster, and construction will begin in 2023 with opening targeted for 2024. This is the largest single attraction investment made by Playland and signals a bright future for Playland.

Playland invests $9M in Canada's fastest new roller coaster