Sunday, June 28, 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. high school snuffs out wildfire logo

B.C. high school snuffs out wildfire logo
The Lillooet Secondary School administration says in a letter to families the wildfire logo holds a different meaning after the fatal blaze that burned through Lytton, and the nearby Elephant Hill fire in 2017 that destroyed more than 100 homes.

B.C. high school snuffs out wildfire logo

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault
Amardip Singh Rai is described as a 42-year-old South Asian Male, 5’11, slim build, with brown eyes, black hair and often has facial hair. He has tattoos including roses on his hands, scroll with words on his neck, a cancer ribbon on his neck and a tiger on his chest.    

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault

Surrey RCMP make arrest for alleged personal robbery inside the ATM area of a Newton bank

Surrey RCMP make arrest for alleged personal robbery inside the ATM area of a Newton bank
On January 16, 2022, at 8:54 p.m., Surrey RCMP received the report of a personal robbery inside a bank in the 13600-block of 72 Avenue. The victim was depositing cash into the ATM when they were approached and allegedly robbed. 

Surrey RCMP make arrest for alleged personal robbery inside the ATM area of a Newton bank

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit
More than 400 Canadian climate scientists and other academics are pleading with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to scrap her plan to create a tax credit for companies that build carbon capture and storage facilities. Freeland floated the idea of the tax credit in last year's federal budget and consultations to design it ended just before Christmas.

Freeland asked to scrap carbon capture tax credit

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy
Canada Post says it is seeking "clarification" from the federal government about face masks after drawing criticism for refusing to let employees bring their own N95 masks to work. The Crown corporation earlier this week said employees had to use a Canada Post-issued cloth mask or disposable medical mask, or they would be sent home.

Canada Post seeking clarification on mask policy

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.
In a statement, Supt. Duncan Pound of B.C.'s anti-gang squad says its investigations into the shootings in Langley, Surrey and Coquitlam — in which one person was killed and the bystanders were hurt — indicate they appear to be connected to the drug trade. 

Four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.