Business

Balsam Hill Outlet retail manager Kelly Bratt, right, talks with sales associate Rickey Haynes during on-the-job training in Allen, Texas, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Retailers, restaurants and others are grappling with increasing demands in the last few months from hourly workers for more flexible schedules, going beyond  a better salary and  bonuses. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Workers fed up with nights, weekends seek flexible schedules

Hourly workers demanding scheduling terms that often used to be non-negotiable

A costumed trick or treater turns after being given candy during Halloween celebrations in Toronto, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Supply shortage woes have Halloween shops scrambling for stock

COVID fears, supply chain issues making scary sales hard to come by

Langford developers have contributed to the city’s affordable housing fund with every rezoning request over the last five years. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. city promising select new homeowners up to 75% of their down payment

The city has earmarked $3 million in grants to help 250 families buy homes

Citizens Services Minister Lisa Beare speaks in the B.C. legislature, June 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s $25 information access fee ‘modest,’ to speed up service

Frequent filers slowing public access, Minister Lisa Beare says

Citizens Services Minister Lisa Beare speaks in the B.C. legislature, June 2021. (Hansard TV)
A compactor works at the Vancouver landfill in Delta. (City of Vancouver)

B.C., Vancouver to expand natural gas capture from Delta landfill

Province matches city’s $4.28 million methane project

A compactor works at the Vancouver landfill in Delta. (City of Vancouver)
A flare stack lights the sky from the Imperial Oil refinery in Edmonton on December 28, 2018. Environment groups in Canada say governments and the oil and gas industry can no longer pretend there is an economic case for expanding oil production after the latest international energy forecast suggests demand for Canada’s oil will fall before the end of this decade. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

International Energy Agency forecasts decline in Canadian oil demand coming

Agency says only scenario where world hits Paris agreement goal to minimize global warming is net-zero plan

A flare stack lights the sky from the Imperial Oil refinery in Edmonton on December 28, 2018. Environment groups in Canada say governments and the oil and gas industry can no longer pretend there is an economic case for expanding oil production after the latest international energy forecast suggests demand for Canada’s oil will fall before the end of this decade. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. flight school expanding amid a global pilot shortage

COVID has decimated the industry but Aurora Aviation sees opportunity on the horizon

Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Dave Lanphear, (left) Envision Financial president; Dan Huang-Taylor, executive director of Food Banks BC; Launi Skinner, CEO of First West Credit Union; and Susan Byrom, executive director of the First West Foundation share news of the Full Cupboard milestone. (Special to Black Press Media)

Envision Financial surpasses $1 million raised for local food banks

Credit union has kept thousands from going hungry in the past eight years

  • Oct 18, 2021
Dave Lanphear, (left) Envision Financial president; Dan Huang-Taylor, executive director of Food Banks BC; Launi Skinner, CEO of First West Credit Union; and Susan Byrom, executive director of the First West Foundation share news of the Full Cupboard milestone. (Special to Black Press Media)
Kingfishers in Maple Ridge has been selected as one of the best for outdoor dining by a restaurant website. (Opentable/Special to The News)

Maple Ridge restaurant lauded for outdoor dining

Kingfishers on the Fraser River stands out, says Opentable.com

Kingfishers in Maple Ridge has been selected as one of the best for outdoor dining by a restaurant website. (Opentable/Special to The News)
Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)

B.C. government puts $2M toward carbon capture fuel plant at Merritt

Upper Nicola Band partners in hydrogen fuel conversion plant

Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)
The United States announced Tuesday that its land borders will reopen in early November. (Aaron Hinks photo)

U.S. land border reopening ‘a great relief,’ but questions remain: Surrey Board of Trade

SBOT executive director, U.S. immigration lawyer agree questions, concerns remain

The United States announced Tuesday that its land borders will reopen in early November. (Aaron Hinks photo)
Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 on Friday

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)

B.C.’s biggest natural gas leak is revenue loss from Crown sales

Outdated incentives are ‘fossil fuel subsidies,’ minister admits

Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)
Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Venture fund aims to unleash the power of female capital in the agri-tech space

Focus in on agriculture and food was made because of an ‘unprecedented economic opportunity’ in the space

Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, B.C., on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. leads in job creation numbers, but more work ahead, says recovery minister

Kahlon says the provincial jobless rate has fallen below six per cent

Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, B.C., on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A worker smooths concrete at a construction site in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Canada adds 157,000 jobs in September, returning to pre-pandemic levels

The country’s unemployment rate fell to 6.9 per cent

A worker smooths concrete at a construction site in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Gas flare near Dawson Creek B.C., the province’s main region for gas and oil production. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C., Blueberry River make deal to keep most industry going

20 oil and gas, forestry, land permits suspended

Gas flare near Dawson Creek B.C., the province’s main region for gas and oil production. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Michael Kovrig, centre, embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, left, and sister Ariana Botha after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Two Canadians who were imprisoned in China for nearly three years are home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada shrugs at China’s application to join Pacific Rim trade agreement

Canada says China will only be permitted entry into the CPTPP if it meets the “high standard” required

Michael Kovrig, centre, embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, left, and sister Ariana Botha after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Two Canadians who were imprisoned in China for nearly three years are home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Facebook says the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that it has a monopoly in the “personal social networking space”. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Facebook asks court to dismiss FTC antitrust complaint

Facebook is asking a federal court to dismiss a revised complaint against…

Facebook says the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that it has a monopoly in the “personal social networking space”. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. An Alberta First Nation says it continues to doubt the need for a federal environmental review of a proposed thermal coal mine expansion in the province.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

No need for federal involvement in Alberta coal mine review, First Nations say

First Nations considered Canada will not consider economic aspect of decision

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. An Alberta First Nation says it continues to doubt the need for a federal environmental review of a proposed thermal coal mine expansion in the province.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh