Business

A man displays his COVID-19 rapid test kit after receiving it at a pharmacy in Montreal, Monday, December 20, 2021. Canadian business and labour groups are at odds over the preferred isolation times for people who have tested positive for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Business, labour groups divided over preferred COVID-19 isolation policies

U.S. CDC shortened isolation period to 5 days

A man displays his COVID-19 rapid test kit after receiving it at a pharmacy in Montreal, Monday, December 20, 2021. Canadian business and labour groups are at odds over the preferred isolation times for people who have tested positive for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A pedestrian walks past the TransAlta building in downtown Calgary, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

TransAlta completes conversion from coal to natural gas power in Canada

TransAlta will also close its Highvale thermal coal mine

A pedestrian walks past the TransAlta building in downtown Calgary, Monday, Oct. 5, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Logs await milling at a Canfor sawmill in Prince George in 2017. Declining allowable harvest in the B.C. Interior and anti-logging protests on the coast have the B.C. forest company investing outside the province. (Canfor Corp. photo)

B.C. old-growth forest preservation plan off to a slow start for 2022

Canfor buys Alberta sawmills, sends harsh message to NDP

Logs await milling at a Canfor sawmill in Prince George in 2017. Declining allowable harvest in the B.C. Interior and anti-logging protests on the coast have the B.C. forest company investing outside the province. (Canfor Corp. photo)
Greenpeace activists stage a demonstration outside a bank in Toronto, as they protest major Canadian bank’s investment in fossil fuels, on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Banks offer big climate commitments in 2021, but key details are yet to come

Pressure is mounting as Canadians live through the very real effects of climate change

Greenpeace activists stage a demonstration outside a bank in Toronto, as they protest major Canadian bank’s investment in fossil fuels, on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Credit cards are displayed in Montreal, Wednesday, December 12, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Feds still plan to act on credit card fees as merchants worry over pandemic delays

Business associations said they’re looking for federal action to ease costs

Credit cards are displayed in Montreal, Wednesday, December 12, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria set a record with gift card sales in November. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Gift cards rule retail as B.C.’s mall shops work around supply chain issues

Shopping anywhere is a boutique experience right now, says Victoria mall general manager

The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria set a record with gift card sales in November. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Rosa Guthrie of Rosa’s Taco Stand, pictured in this 2011 photo, closes doors on the Blackburn Park concession a final time. (File photo)

Rosa’s Taco Stand in Salmon Arm closes doors before contract ends, owner unhappy

Rosa Guthrie says city didn’t treat her fairly, city says it can’t comment on contractual issues

Rosa Guthrie of Rosa’s Taco Stand, pictured in this 2011 photo, closes doors on the Blackburn Park concession a final time. (File photo)
Outboard Pub

Okanagan lakefront pub serves closing notice

Outboard owners aren’t renewing their lease

Outboard Pub
Candy canes and music boxes stand on a holiday display in a Lowe's store Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Northglenn, Colo. Candy canes and other festive sweets are harder to find this year due to supply chain challenges affecting the food industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-AP/David Zalubowski

Candy cane sellers, chocolate makers hit with holiday supply chain challenges

Candy makers have been having trouble sourcing everything from sugar and cocoa to packaging supplies

Candy canes and music boxes stand on a holiday display in a Lowe's store Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Northglenn, Colo. Candy canes and other festive sweets are harder to find this year due to supply chain challenges affecting the food industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-AP/David Zalubowski
Economic Development Minister, International Trade Minister and Small Business and Export Promotion Minister Mary Ng rises during Question Period, Monday, December 6, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals kick-start trade pact challenge to U.S. duties slapped on softwood lumber

Canada has been successful in previous challenges under the North American Free Trade Agreement

Economic Development Minister, International Trade Minister and Small Business and Export Promotion Minister Mary Ng rises during Question Period, Monday, December 6, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Conservative member of Parliament Tom Kmiec rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, March 26, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Liberals, Tories co-operate on extending leave for grieving parents

Parts of Tory MP Tom Kmiec’s private members bill will be incorporated into Liberal legislation

Conservative member of Parliament Tom Kmiec rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, March 26, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Construction workers stand in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway where a massive section of the separate southbound lanes was washed away by flooding last month near Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Coquihalla Highway reopening a major boost for B.C.’s battered supply chain

Crews repaired and patched about 20 stretches of the highway over 130 kilometres

Construction workers stand in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway where a massive section of the separate southbound lanes was washed away by flooding last month near Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland adjusts her notes during a joint news conference in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Business is up heading into 2022, but so too are worries about paying off COVID debt

Report last month found that 15.1% businesses expected to have ‘major challenges’ repaying government aid

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland adjusts her notes during a joint news conference in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Small businesses in B.C. such as along Bernard Avenue in Kelowna's downtown core will continue to face challenging fiscal times in 2022. (File photo)

Grim 2022 outlook for B.C.’s small business sector

Business sector report calls for more government fiscal help

Small businesses in B.C. such as along Bernard Avenue in Kelowna's downtown core will continue to face challenging fiscal times in 2022. (File photo)
After nearly 25 years in operation, Armstrong’s Brown Derby Restaurant is closing forever as of Dec. 31 as the owners retire. (Jenna Churchill Photo)

North Okanagan’s Brown Derby Cafe hanging up hat

Popular breakfast/lunch eatery set to close as owners Neil Todd and Carolyn Russell ready to retire

After nearly 25 years in operation, Armstrong’s Brown Derby Restaurant is closing forever as of Dec. 31 as the owners retire. (Jenna Churchill Photo)
A Victoria house is disassembled by Unbuilders Deconstructors, with doors, windows and old-growth lumber recovered for remanufacturing and sale. Unbuilders received a $500,000 grant from B.C.’s building innovation fund last year. (Unbuilders photo via Facebook)

B.C. government looks to assist more low-carbon building solutions

$5M CleanBC building innovation fund opens for applications

A Victoria house is disassembled by Unbuilders Deconstructors, with doors, windows and old-growth lumber recovered for remanufacturing and sale. Unbuilders received a $500,000 grant from B.C.’s building innovation fund last year. (Unbuilders photo via Facebook)
Ryley Kesslar takes off up a hill in a customized off-road lawnmower. (YouTube photo)

Kelowna resident takes lawnmowers from backyard to backcountry

Kelowna group builds custom lawnmowers for off-road fun

  • Dec 16, 2021
Ryley Kesslar takes off up a hill in a customized off-road lawnmower. (YouTube photo)
Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem participates in a media availability at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Macklem vows clarity so Canadians trust Bank of Canada as inflation stays at 4.7%

‘Price stability is job one, because if we don’t get that right, nothing else is going to work’

Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem participates in a media availability at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)

More time needed for B.C. groundwater registration, opposition says

B.C. Liberals, Greens says most well owners unaware

Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Bank of Canada to maintain inflation mandate, consider job market in rate decisions

BoC may decide to allow inflation to sit closer to either end of the bank’s target range

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld