By: Rob McLister, Canadian Mortgage Trends   Cheap money fuelled another buoyant year for real estate in 2011.   That helped housing values climb a wall of worry (prices rose another 4.6 percent year over year as of November) despite numerous predictions of a correction. Mortgage balances went along for the ride, growing another 7 percent. 2011 was a […]

A leaked government document about the future of Canada’s border crossings — including possible closure, reduced hours, sharing of facilities and remote monitoring —  lists Midway, Cascade, Nelway and Chopaka crossings.   The document, “Small Port Working Group – Initial Results and Paths Forward”, was done collectively between Canada’s Customs and Border Services Agency(CBSA) and […]

Bridesville residents have had enough and they let the government and Emcon know it.   On the evening of Monday, Dec. 12, more than 60 people packed the Bridesville Community Hall to discuss what they feel is a deteriorating road service in their area.   Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater, two Emcon employees and Stephanie Gillis, […]

 A group of more than 50 scientists is publicly lobbying BC Hydro to reconsider its decision to close the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) office in Nelson, and to lay off staff in Castlegar, Nelson and Prince George.   The offices are to be closed by January 2012, and the program consolidated in Burnaby […]

Canada’s key interest rate will end 2011 unchanged.   The Bank of Canada (BoC) left its policy rate at 1.00 percent this week, as anticipated.   In a statement, the Bank said European economic performance will be worse than expected, Canadian and United States growth are “slightly” better than expected, and inflation will “ease.” It […]

B.C.’s deficit is now projected to rise by $313 million to $3.1 billion by the end of the fiscal year because of lower revenues, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced in Victoria on Monday. “While British Columbia is still expected to continue to outperform most other North American economies, we expect revenues to decline and we […]

Members of the federal NDP B.C. Caucus are calling for stronger action by the federal government to protect Canadian citizens affected by a series of measures undertaken by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to US law, anyone who was born in the US is required to file US tax returns even though […]

The B.C. Economic Forecast Council has lowered its growth projections for the province this year and next in light of the worsening global economy. On average, the council expects B.C.’s GDP growth to be 2.2 per cent in 2011, down from its 2.7 per cent forecast in January of this year. The council also predicts […]

The sawmill in Grand Forks will be getting an overhaul over the next year-and-a-half as International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) pumps $24 million into the region.  The company’s announcement came last Wednesday, Nov. 2 when general manager Andrew Horahan unveiled their decision to invest $19 million in Grand Forks and $5 million in the Castlegar […]

 At its meeting Monday, Interfor’s Board of Directors approved a $24-million capital plan to upgrade the Company’s Grand Forks and Castlegar sawmills. The plan involves the installation of a new small log line at Grand Forks to replace the existing two-line facility, along with funds to complete the installation of an automated lumber grading system. […]