Commentary

For my first column of the new year, I’ve dipped into my collection of irrational, damaging or downright dumb happenings in 2017.

Metro Vancouver developers are bracing for the impact of another development cost charge (DCC) increase grenade rolled under their chairs from the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

The cryptocurrency revolution has introduced some interesting technology, notably the blockchain concept, which holds great potential for the agri-food sector.

Let's not overstate it. He is not the 2018 version of Dos Equis’ Most Interesting Man in the World.

Fearless predictions, at this time of year, usually prove to be groundless predictions. I prefer fanciful predictions: more idealistic and baggage-free, less likely to be fulfilled, and therefore unencumbered by evidence or expectations.

There is more than optimistic cargo numbers to kick off 2018 down at the waterfront.

Climate change has been widely discussed in recent weeks. COP23, hosted in Bonn in mid--November, brought together 20,000 people including government delegates, representatives of non-governmental organizations and journalists.

More businesses fail than succeed. That’s an unfortunate reality. Leaders and their teams are understandably often busy working in their businesses rather than on their businesses.

The coming year promises to be an eventful one for the B.C. business community. While our economy continues to grow at a decent pace, business leaders need to brace themselves for the bumpy road that lies ahead.

If Bill Morneau wants a happy holiday, he had better hope Santa isn’t an incorporated small-business professional. There would be more than coal in the stocking. Annus horribilis is ending for the finance minister none too soon.