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The Economy
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Is funnelling money into shovel-ready projects the best strategy for infrastructure development?
I often get asked: “Shouldn’t we support the Olympics or the Port Mann bridge (or any of the multitude of poorly handled infrastructure projects in…
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New report questions economic benefits of cruise industry for the Maritimes
Halifax, NS The Maritimes experienced an 1800 percent increase in cruise passenger numbers between 1990 and 2008. However, the author of a new Canadian Centre…
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BC leads country in rising EI claims
According to today’s Statscan release, unemployment insurance (EI) claims were up 47% in January 2009 compared to January 2008. This makes BC the leader in…
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Statscan spins the recession
Here is the upbeat take on retail sales from Statistics Canada’s Daily: Retail sales rose 1.9% in January after decreasing 5.2% in December. Sales rose…
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BC’s minimum wage soon tied for Canada’s lowest
On April 15th British Columbia officially wins the race to the bottom. That is the day New Brunswick raises its minimum wage to $8.00 an…
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Social assistance caseload way up
In our pre-budget Reality Check, we noted that a recession would lead to upwards pressure on social assistance expenditures. The 2009 Budget notes that every…
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The wrong kind of stimulus
I am a big fan of stimulus packages for our ailing economy. But my pitch has been that we need to use the occasion to…
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Beggar-thy-neighbour politics in Metro Vancouver
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts made the news this week calling for property-tax-free zones in Surrey to attract new business to her city. Of course, in…
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BC unemployment rate surges to 6.7% (updated)
The hurt is on. After jumping to 6.1% in January, the ranks of BC’s unemployed swelled by 14,200 in February, pushing the unemployment rate to…
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Following the money in BC communities
It is one of those publications that few media outlets will report on, and even fewer British Columbians will read, but BC Stats just released…
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