Business

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill after Bell Media announces job cuts, in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

B.C.-based Vista promises no layoffs after buying 21 Bell radio stations

Pledge comes as politicians slam Bell Media for slashing after being granted $40M in relief

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill after Bell Media announces job cuts, in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
The Canfor Vavenby mill shut down in summer 2019. (File photo)

Canfor selling northeastern B.C. pulp mill for $7M

Firm says Taylor mill near Fort St. John being purchased be buyers committed to repurposing site

The Canfor Vavenby mill shut down in summer 2019. (File photo)
Bell Canada head office is seen on Nun’s Island, Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Bell Canada head office is seen on Nun’s Island, Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Radio tuning to Vista as Bell broadcasts sell-off of 21 B.C. stations

Move part of Bell national restructuring that includes sale of 45 stations and loss of 4,800 jobs

Bell Canada head office is seen on Nun’s Island, Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Bell Canada head office is seen on Nun’s Island, Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
This image provided by Pringles shows the Pringles 2024 Super Bowl NFL football spot. (Pringles via AP)

Advertisers jumping the kickoff with sneak peeks of their Super Bowl ads

At $7M for a 30-second spot, companies trying to maximize return on investment

This image provided by Pringles shows the Pringles 2024 Super Bowl NFL football spot. (Pringles via AP)
Former Prince George councillor Cameron Stolz has purchased the city’s only newspaper after watching multiple outlets in other British Columbia Interior communities shut down last year. Stolz is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Prince George Citizen

Prince George newspaper bought by former city councillor

‘I do believe firmly that there is a need for local news for communities’

Former Prince George councillor Cameron Stolz has purchased the city’s only newspaper after watching multiple outlets in other British Columbia Interior communities shut down last year. Stolz is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Prince George Citizen
Imperial Oil Ltd. raised its quarterly dividend by 20 per cent as it reported a fourth-quarter profit of $1.37 billion, down from $1.73 billion a year earlier. An Imperial Oil logo is shown at the company’s annual meeting in Calgary on Friday, April 28, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Imperial Oil breaking production records as industry awaits Trans Mountain completion

Imperial has been working for some time to improve productivity and lower costs

Imperial Oil Ltd. raised its quarterly dividend by 20 per cent as it reported a fourth-quarter profit of $1.37 billion, down from $1.73 billion a year earlier. An Imperial Oil logo is shown at the company’s annual meeting in Calgary on Friday, April 28, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An Indigo bookstore is seen Wednesday, November 4, 2020 in Laval, Que. Shares of Indigo Books & Music Inc. were up more than 50 per cent in early trading after it received a proposal to take the retailer private from a pair of companies owned by controlling shareholder Gerald Schwartz. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Proposal to take Indigo private would lower scrutiny, boost flexibility: experts

The company has spent the bulk of the last year recovering from a major cyberattack, coping with a succession

An Indigo bookstore is seen Wednesday, November 4, 2020 in Laval, Que. Shares of Indigo Books & Music Inc. were up more than 50 per cent in early trading after it received a proposal to take the retailer private from a pair of companies owned by controlling shareholder Gerald Schwartz. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
A truck loaded with logs travels down Highway 20 past the Tolko Industries Ltd. Lakeview Division log yard during the second week in March 2023. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Shift idled at Williams Lake mill as rough run continues for B.C. forestry

Tolko’s Lakeview mill drops to one 50-hour shift per week, affecting 60 workers, fibre supply cited

A truck loaded with logs travels down Highway 20 past the Tolko Industries Ltd. Lakeview Division log yard during the second week in March 2023. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
An employee walks across the lumber yard at Ledwidge Lumber Co. in Halifax on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The federal government is lashing out at the U.S. Commerce Department over plans to raise duties on Canadian softwood lumber. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

U.S. softwood duties going up, along with Canada’s displeasure

Canada’s trade minister calls pending hike ‘disappointing and entirely unwarranted’

An employee walks across the lumber yard at Ledwidge Lumber Co. in Halifax on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The federal government is lashing out at the U.S. Commerce Department over plans to raise duties on Canadian softwood lumber. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
(Black Press file photo)

Alberta uncorks wine flex that leaves B.C. vintners feeling sour

Alberta liquor branch threatens not stocking B.C product from wineries selling directly to consumers

(Black Press file photo)
File - TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew waves as he attends the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, Nov. 10, 2023. The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about child safety on their platforms. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool via AP, File)

Child exploitation probe calls social media CEOs before U.S. senate

Leaders of Meta, TikTok and other firms asked to respond to concerns about their effect on youth

File - TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew waves as he attends the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, Nov. 10, 2023. The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about child safety on their platforms. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool via AP, File)
Canadian Press

Flair airline CEO says debt, delivery delays put expansion plans on hold

Company says it has a plan to repay the federal government $67.2 million in unpaid taxes

Canadian Press
The Victoria-based Pony Communications team is passionate about what it does, even when working on a space toilet campaign. (Courtesy Pony Communications)

Lunar Loo-nacy: B.C. firm clinches award after NASA space toilet campaign

Founder adamant team spirit earned Pony Communications an Inc. business award

The Victoria-based Pony Communications team is passionate about what it does, even when working on a space toilet campaign. (Courtesy Pony Communications)
A lawyer for a group of Apple iPhone users whose devices allegedly slowed down after software updates says consumers will receive between $17.50 and $150 under a settlement agreement negotiated over a class-action lawsuit. A shopper compares two iPhone 15 models on the first day of sales at an Apple Store in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jae C. Hong

Court urged to accept $14.4M B.C. iPhone class action settlement

Amount signifies maximum total payout to divided among those eligible after ‘slowed-down’ complaint

A lawyer for a group of Apple iPhone users whose devices allegedly slowed down after software updates says consumers will receive between $17.50 and $150 under a settlement agreement negotiated over a class-action lawsuit. A shopper compares two iPhone 15 models on the first day of sales at an Apple Store in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jae C. Hong
A Rogers Sugar worker rides his bicycle near the refinery while on strike in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Sweet deal? Tentative agreement reached in prolonged B.C. Rogers Sugar strike

About 140 workers at Vancouver refinery have been off the job since late September

A Rogers Sugar worker rides his bicycle near the refinery while on strike in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Michael Goehring, president and chief executive officer of the British Columbia Mining Association, is critical of the first phase of government’s critical minerals strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s critical mineral strategy not competitive enough, industry group says

BCMA’s Michael Goehring says strategy lacks “competitive fiscal policy”

Michael Goehring, president and chief executive officer of the British Columbia Mining Association, is critical of the first phase of government’s critical minerals strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria toymaker Matt Hiebert’s new puzzle technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective. (Courtesy of Aroundsquare)

B.C. toymaker’s puzzle with no solution offers ‘joy of open-ended building’

‘Because they can fit together in any arrangement there’s no frustration’

Victoria toymaker Matt Hiebert’s new puzzle technically has no solution, or endless solutions, depending on perspective. (Courtesy of Aroundsquare)
The Bank of Canada is set to make its first interest rate announcement of the year this morning. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem arrives for the annual meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial finance ministers in Toronto, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

5% and holding: Bank of Canada rate unchanged, talks begin on when to drop

Rate decision comes a no surprise but analysis were looking for signs of what the future may hold

The Bank of Canada is set to make its first interest rate announcement of the year this morning. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem arrives for the annual meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial finance ministers in Toronto, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville is No. 6 on the Spas of America’s Top 100 of 2023. (Courtesy Tigh-Na-Mara)

Two B.C. spas named among North America’s very best

Tigh-Na-Mara’s The Grotto, Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s The Boathouse, crack Top 100

Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville is No. 6 on the Spas of America’s Top 100 of 2023. (Courtesy Tigh-Na-Mara)
Restaurants Canada is urging the British Columbia government to intervene in a proposed increase to the farm-level price of chicken in the province. Workers process chickens in Fremont, Neb.in a Dec.12, 2019 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Nati Harnik

Playing chicken? New poultry price scheme has B.C. restaurants clucking

Industry says proposed plant will mean a 10% price hike for consumers

Restaurants Canada is urging the British Columbia government to intervene in a proposed increase to the farm-level price of chicken in the province. Workers process chickens in Fremont, Neb.in a Dec.12, 2019 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Nati Harnik