Monday, June 8, 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. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers

B.C. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers
Finance Minister Selina Robinson introduced the bill in the legislature on Tuesday, saying B.C. residents deserve better consumer protection and more transparency in the mortgage broking industry. One pending change is increasing fines to a maximum of $500,000 for those caught breaking the rules, while those with more than one conviction could face fines of up to $2.5 million.

B.C. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron
Just after 3:30 a.m. on October 1, two suspects were in Jack Poole Plaza for 12 minutes, and briefly approached the base of the cauldron before leaving. When they returned 30 minutes later, one approached the base of the cauldron with a tool, while the other appeared to pull out a camera to record the destruction.

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief
The money will help communities and businesses in Atlantic Canada and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine rebuild, and the fund will also go toward cleaning up fishing gear, ensuring the safety of navigation and protecting marine wildlife, he said.

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept
The B.C. board says sales in the region totalled 1,687 last month, down from 3,149 the September before and 1,870 in August. Last month’s sales were almost 36 per cent below the 10-year September sales average.

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept

Expert concerned about language data from census

Expert concerned about language data from census
The national statistics agency flipped the order of two questions related to which language Canadians spoke at home on a regular basis and which languages they spoke most often. The results showed an "unprecedented" rise in the number of Canadians who spoke both English and French as their mother tongue, said Jack Jedwab, CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies.

Expert concerned about language data from census

Second doses of monkeypox vaccine roll out in B.C.

Second doses of monkeypox vaccine roll out in B.C.
The Provincial Health Services Authority says those who received their first dose at least 28 days ago are eligible to make appointments for their second, as part of a two-dose series approved by Health Canada. More than 19,000 doses of Imvamune have been administered to those most at risk of contracting the virus in B.C.

Second doses of monkeypox vaccine roll out in B.C.