Business

Bank buildings are photographed in Toronto’s financial district on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Canadian banks are emerging from the pandemic flush with cash, but analysts say they’ll be looking at financial results out this week for hints of how the sector is transitioning towards more business as usual. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

Big Canadian banks set to release earnings as economy shifts to reopening

Loan growth will be a key area to watch as the economy reopen

Bank buildings are photographed in Toronto’s financial district on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Canadian banks are emerging from the pandemic flush with cash, but analysts say they’ll be looking at financial results out this week for hints of how the sector is transitioning towards more business as usual. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 4.2 per cent to $56.2 billion in June as public health restrictions were eased in many parts of the country. Shoppers are shown at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Statistics Canada says retail sales gained 4.2% in June as restrictions eased

Sales at general merchandise stores rose 7.4 per cent, while motor vehicle and parts dealers gained 2.7 per cent

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 4.2 per cent to $56.2 billion in June as public health restrictions were eased in many parts of the country. Shoppers are shown at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
A Toys “R” Us sign is seen in Montreal on September 19, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Putnam Investments to buy Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada

Ontario-based investment company did not reveal the value or terms of the deal

A Toys “R” Us sign is seen in Montreal on September 19, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jacob Tuioti-Mariner walks in front of the Tesla he arrived in for NFL football training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

U.S. probing Autopilot problems on 765,000 Tesla vehicles

Investigation covers almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jacob Tuioti-Mariner walks in front of the Tesla he arrived in for NFL football training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
A sign is seen outside the Shopify headquarters in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. Shopify Inc.’s chief executive says any staff meeting up will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Shopify to require staff to show proof of full vaccination before meeting up

Tobi Lutke tweeted the announcement this week and says he made the decision ‘because science’

A sign is seen outside the Shopify headquarters in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. Shopify Inc.’s chief executive says any staff meeting up will need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Information regarding the Canadian Pension Plan is displayed of the service Canada website in Ottawa on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board says net assets now top half a trillion dollars

A strong Canadian dollar partially offset some of the gains

Information regarding the Canadian Pension Plan is displayed of the service Canada website in Ottawa on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A shopper carries shopping bags as they leave Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre in Vaughan, Ont., on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. A survey commissioned by the co-working space company IWG found that 40 per cent of people believe the days of formal attire in the office are over, and 59 per cent think it’ll be acceptable to dress less formally in the office when they return. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Canadians don’t want to spend on dress attire for work any more

Pandemic has changed attitudes about dress codes in the workplace

A shopper carries shopping bags as they leave Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre in Vaughan, Ont., on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020. A survey commissioned by the co-working space company IWG found that 40 per cent of people believe the days of formal attire in the office are over, and 59 per cent think it’ll be acceptable to dress less formally in the office when they return. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
A Metro store is seen on April 15, 2019 in Ste-Therese, Que., north of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canada’s big three grocers see shifting shopping habits as pandemic restrictions ease

Smaller basket sizes, more muted sales, and more shopping around are the trends

A Metro store is seen on April 15, 2019 in Ste-Therese, Que., north of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2021, file photo, people wear masks as they work out outside the Hardcore Fitness gym, due to COVID-19 restrictions in downtown Los Angeles. The pandemic has changed how the fitness industry evaluates itself. Roughly 9,000 health clubs, 22% of the total nationwide, have closed since the beginning of the virus outbreak, according to the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association. The pandemic is reshaping America's fitness industry and ushering in a new era of home workouts and virtual classes. High-end exercise equipment maker Peloton is breaking ground Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, on its first U.S. factory in Ohio. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Will gyms go the way of arcades and movie rental stores?

Roughly 9,000 U.S. health clubs have closed since the beginning of the virus outbreak

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2021, file photo, people wear masks as they work out outside the Hardcore Fitness gym, due to COVID-19 restrictions in downtown Los Angeles. The pandemic has changed how the fitness industry evaluates itself. Roughly 9,000 health clubs, 22% of the total nationwide, have closed since the beginning of the virus outbreak, according to the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association. The pandemic is reshaping America's fitness industry and ushering in a new era of home workouts and virtual classes. High-end exercise equipment maker Peloton is breaking ground Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, on its first U.S. factory in Ohio. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Dairy Queen Canada, with multiple stores in B.C., announced recently it has rescheduled its annual Miracle Treat Day normally seen this month to Oct. 28. A portion of the proceeds from all Blizzards sold on that day in British Columbia will go to the B.C. Childrens Hospital Foundation. (Mike Mozart/Flickr photo)

Blizzards forecast in BC in October – each raising funds for children’s hospital care

Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day reset for Oct. 28 in province and across Canada

Dairy Queen Canada, with multiple stores in B.C., announced recently it has rescheduled its annual Miracle Treat Day normally seen this month to Oct. 28. A portion of the proceeds from all Blizzards sold on that day in British Columbia will go to the B.C. Childrens Hospital Foundation. (Mike Mozart/Flickr photo)
Premier John Horgan shows his vaccination card after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the pharmacy in James Bay Thrifty’s Foods in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, April 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Canadian business community largely supportive of vaccine passport system

Passports could help to ensure that people attending sporting events and bars are fully vaccinated

Premier John Horgan shows his vaccination card after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the pharmacy in James Bay Thrifty’s Foods in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, April 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A help wanted sign is displayed at car wash in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. Statistics Canada will reveal this morning how the labour market fared in July as restrictions meant to quell the COVID-19 pandemic were rolled back in many provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Michael Conroy

Economy added 94,000 jobs in July, largely in the services sector: Statistics Canada

Rise came largely in full-time work, which rose by 83,000 or half a percentage point

A help wanted sign is displayed at car wash in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. Statistics Canada will reveal this morning how the labour market fared in July as restrictions meant to quell the COVID-19 pandemic were rolled back in many provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Michael Conroy
PartnerStack co-founders (left to right) Luke Swanek, Jon Mendes, Neil Chudleigh and Bryn Jones are shown in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Canadian companies seeing venture capital funding boom, interest in fintechs high

About US$2.1 billion was raised across 197 deals in the first quarter of 2021

PartnerStack co-founders (left to right) Luke Swanek, Jon Mendes, Neil Chudleigh and Bryn Jones are shown in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Farmgate sales of meat have been restricted in B.C. since new federal rules took effect in 2001. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. issuing new farmgate licences to allow meat sales this fall

Health rules restrict sales to local regional districts only

Farmgate sales of meat have been restricted in B.C. since new federal rules took effect in 2001. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. government program spending, in millions, from 2016 to 2021. (B.C. finance ministry)

B.C.’s tax take continued to climb during COVID-19 pandemic year

Federal billions offset loss in fees, licence revenues

B.C. government program spending, in millions, from 2016 to 2021. (B.C. finance ministry)
B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)

B.C. budget deficit $5.5 billion, less than half last year’s forecast

Province’s COVID-19 spending tops $10 billion for 2020-21

B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)
B.C. Investment Management Corporation CEO Gordon Fyfe has led the corporation to achieve positive returns for the province’s civil service pension plan. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Record return: Victoria-based company sets new B.C. standard for pension investment

B.C. Investment Management Corporation gained 16.5 per cent in 2020 for civil service pension plan

B.C. Investment Management Corporation CEO Gordon Fyfe has led the corporation to achieve positive returns for the province’s civil service pension plan. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)

B.C. COVID-19 fund supports 83 tourist attractions, bus companies

Butchart Gardens, Hells Gate, water parks among recipients

Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)
B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)

Record B.C. lumber profits should go to wildfire fight, Horgan says

Prices have plummeted from May peak, supply tightening

B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)
Mat Devito and family photos from the wall of the new Vince Devito Shoes shop at 411 Hall Street. A multi-month renovation lead by RAMM Custom Build and interior designer Randall Boisvert’s Covet Interiors wrapped up last month. The shop, there since 1995, has doubled in size. All of the labour and design was local. “It was a way to give back to our local customers,” says Devito. “Now we’re looking forward to the future — here we go.” Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Get wise to wildfire, North Shore goes green, physio, follicles and phoenix rise from Josephine flames

Lots of Nelson business news from Darren Davidson…

  • Jul 21, 2021
Mat Devito and family photos from the wall of the new Vince Devito Shoes shop at 411 Hall Street. A multi-month renovation lead by RAMM Custom Build and interior designer Randall Boisvert’s Covet Interiors wrapped up last month. The shop, there since 1995, has doubled in size. All of the labour and design was local. “It was a way to give back to our local customers,” says Devito. “Now we’re looking forward to the future — here we go.” Photo: Darren Davidson