Business

B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents bill to delay B.C.’s budget as late as April 30, and allow further spending before that, B.C. legislature, Dec. 8, 2020. (Hansard TV)

How big is B.C.’s COVID-19 deficit? We’ll find out April 20

More borrowing expected as pandemic enters second year

A worker carrying a disinfectant sprayer walks past a WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft, after cleaning another plane at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, January 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

WestJet to lay off undisclosed number of pilots amid labour negotiations

Airlines have been in negotiations with feds for months about a sector-specific aid package

A local aerial photographer's drone was stolen from his car Feb. 24. (Kyle Froud photo)

New North Okanagan business deflated by thieves

Aerial photographer’s drone stolen from car overnight

(Phil McLachlan - Capital News)

Kelowna’s top cop removing barriers for women in the force

Kara Triance’s journey to becoming a police chief was not without its challenges

(Phil McLachlan - Capital News)
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Join Black Press Media and Do Some Good

Pay it Forward program supports local businesses in their community giving

Join Black Press Media and Do Some Good
Ella Lamourexu. (Phil McLachlan, Kelowna Capital News)

Kelowna’s drag story

Ella Lamourexu explains the history behind drag in Kelowna

Ella Lamourexu. (Phil McLachlan, Kelowna Capital News)
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A new report says Canada’s small businesses now collectively owe more than $135 billion as they struggle to survive the pandemic, a staggering amount experts say could hurt the country’s economic recovery. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canadian small businesses rack up $135 billion in debt to survive pandemic: report

Federation of Independent Business said the average small business owner has accrued $170K in debt

A new report says Canada’s small businesses now collectively owe more than $135 billion as they struggle to survive the pandemic, a staggering amount experts say could hurt the country’s economic recovery. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A pedestrian walks past the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Canada’s top court has decided against hearing appeals brought to it by Bell Canada and a number of cable companies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s top court says it won’t hear appeals by Bell and several cable companies

Supreme Court refusal a victory for Canada’s independent internet providers, may lead to lower prices

A pedestrian walks past the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Canada’s top court has decided against hearing appeals brought to it by Bell Canada and a number of cable companies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A Penticton resident since 1999, Helen Goodwin has been with Valley First for almost 20 years, holding several positions within the organization. (Contributed)

Penticton Valley First Credit Union welcomes new branch manager

Helen Goodwin will be returning to Penticton as branch manager of the Valley First on Main Street

A Penticton resident since 1999, Helen Goodwin has been with Valley First for almost 20 years, holding several positions within the organization. (Contributed)
A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Home sales shifting towards pricier housing in several major markets, CMHC says

In more recent months, CMHC has seen the number of sales outpace new listings

A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
Pivot Rx is a new downtown Vernon pharmacy that aims to combine face-to-face care with the latest technological offerings in pharmaceutical care. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

New Vernon pharmacy takes ‘old-school’ approach to cutting-edge care

Pivot Rx has set up shop downtown in a building formerly home to MacKay’s Prescriptions for 40 years

Pivot Rx is a new downtown Vernon pharmacy that aims to combine face-to-face care with the latest technological offerings in pharmaceutical care. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Wall Street’s mania over GameStop is on again, at least for one afternoon. Shares in the troubled video game company more than doubled Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 to $91.71 apiece, the stock’s best day since Jan. 27, when it was going for $347.51 a share. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

GameStop shares double Wednesday after tumbling for much of February

Wall Street’s mania over GameStop is on again, at least for one afternoon

Wall Street’s mania over GameStop is on again, at least for one afternoon. Shares in the troubled video game company more than doubled Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 to $91.71 apiece, the stock’s best day since Jan. 27, when it was going for $347.51 a share. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
B.C. NDP leader John Horgan and former finance minister Carole James roll out “StrongerBC,” a $1.5 billion business support plan for COVID-19, eight months after the B.C. legislature approved the money and four days before a snap election call, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government photo)

B.C.’s COVID-19 business grant fund still mostly unspent

$300 million pandemic assistance approved almost a year ago

B.C. NDP leader John Horgan and former finance minister Carole James roll out “StrongerBC,” a $1.5 billion business support plan for COVID-19, eight months after the B.C. legislature approved the money and four days before a snap election call, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government photo)
Temporary changes to allow for wholesale pricing for the hospitality industry were implemented June 2020 and set to expire March 31. (Pixabay photo)

Pubs, restaurants to pay wholesale prices on liquor permanently in COVID-recovery

Pre-pandemic, restaurateurs and tourism operators paid full retail price on most liquor purchases

Temporary changes to allow for wholesale pricing for the hospitality industry were implemented June 2020 and set to expire March 31. (Pixabay photo)
Medical masks and social distancing are new additions to this year’s farmer’s market in Vernon amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Vernon lobbies to bring artisans back to farmers’ markets

Local market losing money, members and customers due to provincial health regulations

Medical masks and social distancing are new additions to this year’s farmer’s market in Vernon amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Twelve new curbside pickup parking spots are now in effect along 30th Avenue in downtown Vernon. (Downtown Vernon Association photo)

Popular Vernon curbside pickup stalls extended

Popular 10-minute stalls to help businesses during COVID

Twelve new curbside pickup parking spots are now in effect along 30th Avenue in downtown Vernon. (Downtown Vernon Association photo)
The association representing woodstoves is fighting bans by municipal governments in the Comox Valley. File photo

Industry fighting back against B.C. woodstove bans

Clean-air advocates not sold on industry data about new stoves

The association representing woodstoves is fighting bans by municipal governments in the Comox Valley. File photo
Denita Zimmer sorts through clothing options available at Salmon Arm’s Man Woman Home open at 103 231 Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Kelowna clothier branches out with new home in Salmon Arm

Man Woman Home opens doors at 103 231 Trans-Canada Highway

Denita Zimmer sorts through clothing options available at Salmon Arm’s Man Woman Home open at 103 231 Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Mitchal Derksen, middle, owner of NUMU Technologies, talks data with his team at Triumph Coffee in downtown Vernon. Derksen and his busisness. an alum of the Community Futures North Okanagan’s Enterprize Challenge, is a finalist for Small Business BC award. (Photo submitted)

North Okanagan companies up for provincial honours

FILL and Numu Technologies from Vernon are finalists for Small Business BC awards

Mitchal Derksen, middle, owner of NUMU Technologies, talks data with his team at Triumph Coffee in downtown Vernon. Derksen and his busisness. an alum of the Community Futures North Okanagan’s Enterprize Challenge, is a finalist for Small Business BC award. (Photo submitted)
A new reports finds that the number of active businesses in British Columbia had dropped by 5.1 per cent in October 2020 compared to 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

New report finds COVID-19 pandemic cut B.C.’s hospitality jobs in half

Some 14,000 businesses closed during height of pandemic

A new reports finds that the number of active businesses in British Columbia had dropped by 5.1 per cent in October 2020 compared to 2019. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)