Business & Economy

Cargill beef plant to reopen next week after COVID-19 outbreak forced closure

CALGARY - Workers are to return Monday to a beef processing plant south of Calgary that was closed for two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Cargill says its High River facility will restart ...

Apr 29, 2020

Cost of restoring E&N Rail Line to full capacity in Nanaimo-area more than $200M

NANAIMO - The final numbers are in for restoring rail service on Vancouver Island. The ministry of transportation and infrastructure released their assessment of the E&N Rail Line on Tuesday, Apri...

Apr 28, 2020 The stretch of E&N Rail between Duncan and Parksville would cost around $100 million to upgrade to a bare minimum level of service. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Widespread WestJet cancellations involve Nanaimo Airport

NANAIMO - Drastic reductions to WestJet's domestic flight schedule will impact its routes linking Nanaimo Airport to Vancouver and Calgary.WestJet announced it's two daily round-trips between Nanaimo ...

Apr 23, 2020 WestJet is cancelling a number of routes including those servicing Nanaimo during the COVID-19 pandemic. (WestJet)

'The loss is incalculable:' Nanaimo business plummets with Night Market fate in limbo

NANAIMO - Downtown Nanaimo streets won't be packed with thousands of shoppers and hundreds of businesses this year. The third annual Night Market, presented by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce,...

Apr 23, 2020 Kim Smythe with the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce says more than 30 per cent of shops say they likely won't recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Preventive measures at Alberta meat plants came too late to stop outbreaks

CALGARY - The rapid spread of COVID-19 at Canada's meat-packing plants isn't a surprise, say union and health officials. Fabian Murphy, president of the Agriculture Union, which represents federal mea...

Apr 23, 2020

British Columbians told COVID-19 restrictions expected to last for months

NANAIMO - The province's top doctor cautions life won't return to normal for months as progress continues in the battle against COVID-19 in B.C.Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presented new...

Apr 17, 2020 While the COVID-19 trajectory in the province continues to improve, we're being told to not expect life to return to normal anytime soon. (B.C. Government)

Federal oilpatch bailout focus on cleanup of abandoned wells, reduced emissions

Observers say the federal government's multibillion-dollar oilpatch bailout package announced Friday should come with strings attached. "(Money) should be tied to regulatory change in Albert...

Apr 17, 2020

'Stay Strong Nanaimo' campaign highlights local business successes during COVID-19

NANAIMO - A rallying cry for local businesses is being heard across Nanaimo.The Stay Strong Nanaimo partnership with the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce encourages people to share stories of how s...

Apr 12, 2020

Premier Kenney predicts 25 per cent unemployment in Alberta due to COVID-19

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has a grim prediction for workers in his province.He says there may well be 25 per cent unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.He has told an energy i...

Apr 07, 2020

Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries route nixed during COVID-19 pandemic

NANAIMO - Ferry travel to and from Nanaimo will soon be severely limited as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. BC Ferries announced new routes starting Saturday, April 4. The entire Departure Bay to Hor...

Apr 03, 2020 There will soon only be four sailings from Nanaimo to the Lower Mainland during the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)