Sunday, June 14, 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

West Fraser Timber raising quarterly dividend

West Fraser Timber raising quarterly dividend
West Fraser had paid a quarterly dividend of 25 cents US per share. The company says the increased payment to shareholders follows its recent share buyback plan that reduced its number of shares outstanding.

West Fraser Timber raising quarterly dividend

Canada issues travel health advisory for monkeypox

Canada issues travel health advisory for monkeypox
The virus, typically only found in West and Central Africa, has cropped up around the globe with cases in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and more than two dozen other countries.

Canada issues travel health advisory for monkeypox

Driver in rollover crash that seriously injured woman pleads guilty, receives two-year sentence

Driver in rollover crash that seriously injured woman pleads guilty, receives two-year sentence
Several charges were approved in May 2021, but the suspect had left the province and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest. In January 2022, with the assistance of Laval Police (Service du police de Laval), 33-year-old Quebec resident, Moussa Daoui, was arrested and returned to B.C.    

Driver in rollover crash that seriously injured woman pleads guilty, receives two-year sentence

Victims in Richmond shooting identified as Jeevan Saepan & Kevin Allaraj, shooting gang related

Victims in Richmond shooting identified as Jeevan Saepan & Kevin Allaraj, shooting gang related
Victims are 23-year-old Kevin Allaraj, and 22-year-old Jeevan Saepan. Both were from the Lower Mainland and known to police. Initial information obtained indicates that this is a targeted incident connected to gang activities.

Victims in Richmond shooting identified as Jeevan Saepan & Kevin Allaraj, shooting gang related

Ontario teen arrested for online shooting threat

Ontario teen arrested for online shooting threat
Police said the suspect was seen waving a gun in the video, making anti-LGBTQ comments, and claiming to live in Palm Beach County, where he said he was going to commit the mass shooting that day.    

Ontario teen arrested for online shooting threat

Summit 'important moment to gather,' Trudeau says

Summit 'important moment to gather,' Trudeau says
On the way, he and Defence Minister Anita Anand are stopping in Colorado Springs, Colo., for meetings with commanders and officials from Norad, the joint-command continental defence system slated for upgrade.

Summit 'important moment to gather,' Trudeau says