Business

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, demanded by the B.C. Green Party, B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. moves to drop employee vote from union certification drives

Construction workers to be allowed to change unions once a year

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, demanded by the B.C. Green Party, B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Logs are piled up at West Fraser Timber in Quesnel, B.C., Tuesday, April 21, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

West Fraser cutting pulp production at Alberta mill, changing type of pulp output

Company permanently reducing capacity at its pulp mill in Hinton by end of the year

Logs are piled up at West Fraser Timber in Quesnel, B.C., Tuesday, April 21, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
This photo provided by Toyota, shows the 2022 Tesla Model 3, an all-electric SUV that has an estimated maximum range of about 330 miles. (Courtesy of Tesla Motors via AP)

Vehicle reviewer picks 5 SUVs to help you save at the pump

Manufacturers offering consumers a variety of ways to beat the prices at the pump

This photo provided by Toyota, shows the 2022 Tesla Model 3, an all-electric SUV that has an estimated maximum range of about 330 miles. (Courtesy of Tesla Motors via AP)
There have been “missed opportunities” to develop density along SkyTrain lines, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says. (TransLink photo)

B.C. to force higher-density development along transit lines

Agency will have authority to buy land along rail corridors

There have been “missed opportunities” to develop density along SkyTrain lines, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says. (TransLink photo)
A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, June, 12, 2018.The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says home sales picked up between February and March but are still down from a year ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver’s March home sales up 27% since February: B.C. real estate board

Rebound still behind the pace of sales in March one year ago

A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, June, 12, 2018.The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says home sales picked up between February and March but are still down from a year ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2015, file photo, a cod to be auctioned sits on ice at the Portland Fish Exchange, in Portland, Maine. Russia, along with Iceland and Norway, remains a major producer of the white fish, which it harvests from the Barents Sea and other frigid oceans. The U.S. is clamping down on trade with Russia, and is targeting seafood in particular. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Seafood biz braces for losses of jobs, fish due to sanctions

Russia is one of the largest producers of seafood in the world

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2015, file photo, a cod to be auctioned sits on ice at the Portland Fish Exchange, in Portland, Maine. Russia, along with Iceland and Norway, remains a major producer of the white fish, which it harvests from the Barents Sea and other frigid oceans. The U.S. is clamping down on trade with Russia, and is targeting seafood in particular. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
People wear masks as a precaution due to the coronavirus outbreak as they arrive at the International terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Saturday, January 25, 2020. As of tomorrow, vaccinated travellers will no longer need a COVID-19 test to enter Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Starting Friday, vaccinated travellers to Canada don’t need a COVID-19 test

Travel agents report surge in demand for flights since the change was announced two weeks ago

People wear masks as a precaution due to the coronavirus outbreak as they arrive at the International terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Saturday, January 25, 2020. As of tomorrow, vaccinated travellers will no longer need a COVID-19 test to enter Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
B.C. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston tours Cellcentric’s hydrogen fuel cell plant in Burnaby, August 2021. Cellcentric is a German-based partnership of Mercedes Benz and Volvo, developing zero-emission heavy trucks. (B.C. government photo)

B.C.’s hydrogen fuel project seeing big investor interest, Horgan says

Dedicated permit office aims to streamline development

B.C. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston tours Cellcentric’s hydrogen fuel cell plant in Burnaby, August 2021. Cellcentric is a German-based partnership of Mercedes Benz and Volvo, developing zero-emission heavy trucks. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture says it is ending the COVID-19 quarantine program for seasonal agricultural temporary foreign workers but will keep a different program for another year to support self-isolation to curb the spread of the virus.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. ends quarantine program for temporary foreign workers, self-isolation continues

The British Columbia Agriculture Ministry says it is ending the COVID-19 quarantine…

B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture says it is ending the COVID-19 quarantine program for seasonal agricultural temporary foreign workers but will keep a different program for another year to support self-isolation to curb the spread of the virus.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
This Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, photo shows music streaming apps clockwise from top left, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and Google on an iPhone in New York. SOCAN has revealed that on average Canadian sogwriters earned only $67 last year in royalties from digital streaming services.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jenny Kane

Canadian songwriters made on average $67 in royalties from digital platforms in 2021

Overall Canadians gained record royalties from streaming platforms in 2021

This Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, photo shows music streaming apps clockwise from top left, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and Google on an iPhone in New York. SOCAN has revealed that on average Canadian sogwriters earned only $67 last year in royalties from digital streaming services.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jenny Kane
Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

B.C. government amends over 740 instances of gender-based language in regulations

Changes better establish provincial rights for non-binary people, said ministry

Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., adjusts his face mask during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP

Canadian pot producers watch closely as Democrats aim to rewrite U.S. cannabis laws

If passed and signed by President Biden, bill would declassify marijuana as a controlled substance.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., adjusts his face mask during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers the keynote address during the GLOBE Forum at the Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Canada's oil and gas industry is still facing uncertainty in the wake of the federal government's sweeping new emissions reduction plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Emissions plan leaves oilpatch with uncertainty; cap on sector still in development

Government consulting with industry, others about what that cap will be

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers the keynote address during the GLOBE Forum at the Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Canada's oil and gas industry is still facing uncertainty in the wake of the federal government's sweeping new emissions reduction plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Oshawa’s General Motors car assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont., on November 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

GM Canada names Marissa West new president and general manager

West will replace current GM Canada president Scott Bel

The Oshawa’s General Motors car assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont., on November 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima
CleanBC’s Industry Fund areas focus on carbon capture, carbon capture tech development, and the mitigation of risk around carbon capture research. (Stock photo)

B.C. commits $282 million to CleanBC Industry Fund investment, applications now open

Funding still dwarfed by provincial fossil fuel subsidies over past 2 fiscal years

CleanBC’s Industry Fund areas focus on carbon capture, carbon capture tech development, and the mitigation of risk around carbon capture research. (Stock photo)
B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks to the legislature, Dec. 10, 2020. (Hansard TV)

B.C. government prepares to impose real estate cooling-off period

Bidding wars don’t allow inspection, financing consideration

B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks to the legislature, Dec. 10, 2020. (Hansard TV)
More than half of Canada’s forests have no industrial activity, and the remainder is strictly regulated, the Forest Products Association of Canada says. (B.C. government photo)

Forest poll part of anti-Canadian trade campaign, industry says

Ottawa funds group targeting U.S. wood product purchases

More than half of Canada’s forests have no industrial activity, and the remainder is strictly regulated, the Forest Products Association of Canada says. (B.C. government photo)
A woman holds two cellphones in this photo illustration, Monday March 29, 2021 in Chelsea, Que. The CRTC has approved Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw’s broadcasting services, subject to some conditions and modifications. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

CRTC approves broadcast component of Rogers-Shaw deal, with conditions

CRTC found that the competitive landscape would not be unduly affected

A woman holds two cellphones in this photo illustration, Monday March 29, 2021 in Chelsea, Que. The CRTC has approved Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw’s broadcasting services, subject to some conditions and modifications. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. chicken farmers plead for permission to raise prices as inflation pecks at profits

Costs steadily increasing, but producers unable to increase price of chicken meat and eggs

Central Saanich council will request that the Farm Industry Review Board permit growers to immediately raise their prices to reflect the current cost of production, in the face of past and current inflationary pressures including the war in Ukraine. (Black Press Media file photo)
A SeaBus travels across Burrard Inlet as gantry cranes tower above container ships being unloaded and loaded at port, in Vancouver, on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says cargo volumes increased one per cent to 146 million tonnes last year despite the pandemic, global supply chain challenges and extreme weather in B.C. at the end of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Port of Vancouver volume up one per cent last year despite pandemic, supply, flooding

Number of shipping containers passing through the port increased six per cent

A SeaBus travels across Burrard Inlet as gantry cranes tower above container ships being unloaded and loaded at port, in Vancouver, on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says cargo volumes increased one per cent to 146 million tonnes last year despite the pandemic, global supply chain challenges and extreme weather in B.C. at the end of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck