Tuesday, June 23, 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

Erin O'Toole loses leadership review vote

Erin O'Toole loses leadership review vote
Erin O'Toole has lost a vote to remain leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.  The party's members of Parliament met virtually today to cast secret ballots after about one-third of them signed a notice that triggered a leadership review.

Erin O'Toole loses leadership review vote

Canada's groundhogs disagree on weather forecast

Canada's groundhogs disagree on weather forecast
Nova Scotia's celebrity groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, and Quebec's Fred la Marmotte both predicted a long, cold winter ahead, while Ontario's Wiarton Willie claimed an early spring is on the way.

Canada's groundhogs disagree on weather forecast

Hundreds using special code to avoid no-fly snags

Hundreds using special code to avoid no-fly snags
A dozen of these travellers have been cleared to board an aircraft as a direct result of having the personal code since the program began in November 2020, says Public Safety Canada.

Hundreds using special code to avoid no-fly snags

CMA urges Canada to speed vaccine access globally

CMA urges Canada to speed vaccine access globally
Raising the international vaccination rate in less prosperous countries is the only way to prevent the emergence of new COVID-19 variants that are prolonging the pandemic through an endless cycle of lockdowns and serious illness, said Dr. Katharine Smart, the president of the leading association of Canadian medical professionals.

CMA urges Canada to speed vaccine access globally

Jan. home sales slow, supply low: Vancouver board

Jan. home sales slow, supply low: Vancouver board
The B.C. board says home sales totalled 2,285 las month, an almost five per cent decrease from 2,389 in January 2021 and a 15 per cent fall from 2,688 in December 2021.

Jan. home sales slow, supply low: Vancouver board

Omicron cases peak but path ahead uncertain

Omicron cases peak but path ahead uncertain
The Omicron wave appears to be cresting across the country, but it's difficult to predict what's next for the pandemic, experts say. Prof. Bernard Crespi, an evolutionary biologist at Simon Fraser University, said the development of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 gives clues as to what might come.

Omicron cases peak but path ahead uncertain