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The provincial government plans to spend $370,000 to help train another 50 building energy advisers over the next few months. Twenty-five people will be trained at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo in partnership with City Green Solutions.

B.C.'s film industry recovered from a dramatic drop in film and television production last year, according to data released by the B.C. Film Commission. Film production increased 27.9% to $1.2 billion, up from $943.

A new report by 19 forestry industry leaders has made 29 recommendations to help the ailing sector, which has been hammered by the depression in the U.S. housing marke t.

Come April 1, British Columbians could be paying 12% to 14% less on their natural gas bills, if the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) approves a Terasen Gas request to drop rates. Terasen is asking to drop rates $1.

Copper producer First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX:FM) has fallen victim to the global recession as the Vancouver company's net profits plummeted in 2008 even though annual revenue rose. Net profit for the year dropped to US$45.

Vancouver's Gold Wheaton Corp. (TSX-V:GLW) and Rubicon Minerals Corp. (TSX:RMX) have together raised $155 million in separate public financings that closed March 5.

Taxes and increased sales costs eroded profit for Northgate Minerals Corp. (TSX:NGX) for the year ending December 31, but the Vancouver company boosted revenue and gold production during 2008. Net income dropped to US$10.7 million from US$39.

Canadian and U.S. businesses seem content with the North American Free Trade Agreement and don't see the need to remove trade barriers to other global markets, according to a UPS business survey.

Despite declining real estate prices, British Columbians are still among the most bullish Canadians about residential real estate prospects, according to a new RBC home ownership survey.

Vancouver's West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX:WFT) is cutting lumber production at seven B.C. sawmills. The move will affect an estimated 1,160 employees. Beginning March 16, the company plans to shut down production for one- to two-week periods.