Business & Economy

Oilpatch advocates tell MPs help needs to be faster, easier to get

OTTAWA - Representatives from Canada's oilpatch say they don't know of a single energy company that has yet benefited from any of Ottawa's COVID-19-inspired loan programs. Several company ow...

May 28, 2020

Tourism operators navigate COVID-19 restart through homegrown support program

NANAIMO - Few industries have been hammered as hard by COVID-19 than tourism, however a support program is helping navigate local businesses through the pandemic.In April, Tourism Vancouver Island lau...

May 26, 2020

Alberta government stands by energy minister's pipeline and COVID comments

EDMONTON - Alberta's government house leader is not backing away from his fellow minister's comment that the COVID-19 pandemic is a great time to build pipelines. On Friday, Energy Minister Sonya Sava...

May 26, 2020

Nanaimo council green lights patio expansion for downtown cafes & restaurants

NANAIMO - Downtown restaurants are getting extra help as they look to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.City council unanimously voted to move ahead with a temporary patio expansion program for food servi...

May 25, 2020

Gathering limits make a 'great time to be building a pipeline:' Alberta minister

EDMONTON - Alberta's energy minister says it's a good time to build a pipeline because public health restrictions limit protests against them. Sonya Savage made the comment Friday in a podcast hosted ...

May 25, 2020

Nanaimo shoppers, retailers stickhandle COVID-19 mall experience

NANAIMO - Local shoppers and retailers are adapting to the new-normal at area shopping centres with varied levels of success.Many retail and personal service businesses were permitted to re-open by th...

May 22, 2020

Dine In: NanaimoNewsNOW samples new restaurant normal

NANAIMO - After weeks of take out or delivery-only options at several area restaurants, a relaxing of restrictions from the provincial government finally allowed for dine-in service.NanaimoNewsNOW's S...

May 21, 2020

First wave of Nanaimo businesses re-open, more to follow as week progresses

NANAIMO - Local businesses are re-opening their doors after several uncertain months. Phase two of B.C.'s Restart Plan officially kicked off on Tuesday, May 19. A wide swath of businesses, including g...

May 19, 2020

Bank of Canada warns in report of business, household debt from COVID-19

OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada says there are signs in the country's financial markets that suggest concern about the ability of companies to weather the COVID-19 economic crisis. The central bank has sp...

May 14, 2020

Nanaimo gas prices creeping back up after sharp drop

NANAIMO - One of the few silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic is now going away. At the height of the crisis, gas prices in Nanaimo plummeted to around 85 centre per litre for several weeks at the ...

Maria Doty May 07, 2020 Gas price as of Wednesday, May 6, up roughly 10 cents in only a few days. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)