Economy, Law & Politics

Tens of billions in business tax income at stake for cash-strapped governments

BC can't seem to bust out of its unemployment slump. Mixed economic data about the global economy seems to have made B.C. business owners increasingly cautious. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business business barometer has shown that B.C. small businesses have grown increasingly pessimistic about their future prospects. The B.C. index hit a three-year low in July as global economic concerns persisted.

The Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) has filed suit against local design engineer firm SSBV Consultants Inc. over what it claims are design defects at a North Vancouver water filtration plant.

Canadian wholesale sales edged down 0.1% to $49.9 billion in June, after four consecutive monthly increases, according to Statistics Canada. In volume terms, wholesale sales were down 0.5%.

Touted as fifth best area in Canada to invest, Maple Ridge's city centre had $41.3 million in development applications in 2012's first half

The new site could have been built for a fraction of what city spent, local web developers say

Canadian employees can expect an average salary increase of 2.9 % in 2013, according to a national survey of public and private sector employers conducted by Hay Group. The projected increase is slightly more than that projected in 2012 (2.8 %).

A new CIBC poll of Canadians aged 50 to 59 showed that while retirement is just around the corner for many, they have come up short on their savings goals and plan to supplement their income by working in retirement.

The CEO of ICBC has resigned after the B.C. government said it is revoking the Crown corporation’s licence to overspend.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging the provincial government to scrap the carbon tax, which it says is hurting B.C. businesses. “It’s time for the carbon tax to go,” said CTF’s B.C. director Jordan Bateman.