Business & Economy

Alberta's Toews says final bill on defunct Keystone XL not 'materially' above $1.3B

EDMONTON - Alberta's finance minister says taxpayers won't be on the hook for much more beyond $1.3 billion already committed to the defunct Keystone XL pipeline. Travis Toews did not provide specific...

Mar 09, 2021

First new hotel in more than a decade opens in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - A new hotel stands out amid the older-style homes and empty lot just west of downtown Nanaimo. The 45-room Quality Inn hotel at 440 Selby St. between Franklyn and Albert St. is now open.Acco...

Mar 09, 2021

Nanaimo's residential construction sector maintains steady pace during pandemic

NANAIMO - COVID-19 doesn't appear to be a major hindrance in building new homes in the city.A presentation Monday night from the City's director of development approvals Jeremy Holm showed permitted v...

Mar 03, 2021

New micro-fulfillment centre to help local small business meet growing online orders

PARKSVILLE - A massive barrier for local businesses to compete with online giants like Amazon is on its way to being smashed.Funded by a $620,000 provincial grant, a new warehouse and fulfillment faci...

Feb 26, 2021

Pandemic increased direct aid to fossil fuel producers, new study shows

OTTAWA - A new report suggests the economic impact of the pandemic led to a massive increase in federal aid to Canada's oil patch. But the annual inventory of fossil fuel subsidies published by the In...

Feb 25, 2021

No details: Alberta energy minister announces date for start of coal consultations

EDMONTON - Alberta says public consultations on coal mining will begin March 29 but there's no decision yet on how they will go ahead. "I have directed my department officials to bring forward a compr...

Feb 23, 2021

Unpaid oilpatch property taxes triple in two years, say rural municipalities

EDMONTON - Alberta's rural towns say property taxes that have gone unpaid by the province's struggling oilpatch have tripled in two years. A survey released by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta says...

Feb 18, 2021

Gabriola Island pedestrian path praised, revised completion delayed several months

GABRIOLA ISLAND - A new multi-use pedestrian path serving Gabriola Island's commercial core is already improving public safety despite not being completed yet.The RDN expects the 1.5 kilometre Village...

Feb 13, 2021

Province approves Nanaimo's single-use plastic bags ban

NANAIMO - The typical grocery bag will soon be outlawed in Nanaimo. The City received provincial approval on Friday, Feb. 12 in its effort to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags, including bi...

Feb 12, 2021

City examining ways to address Nanaimo's downtown battered by social disorder

NANAIMO - A pair of projects addressing downtown social disorder are pushing forward, while City officials monitor how to react to an expected increase in challenges in the months ahead.Dave LaBerge, ...

Feb 08, 2021