BCREA April 2024 Employment Report
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canadian employment rose by 90,400, or 0.4 per cent, to 20.491 million in April. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.1 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 4.7 per cent year-over-year to $34.95 last month, while total hours worked were up 1.2 per cent from April of last year. Employment in BC rose 0.8 per cent to 2.871 million and the unemployment rate fell 0.5 points in BC to 5 per cent.
Northern BC Award Winners
BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) announced the winners of the 2024 BC Economic Development Awards at the BCEDA’s annual awards presentation held on May 8th at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre in Penticton during the BC Economic Summit.
The Economic Reconciliation Award (community less than 20,000 population) went to the District of Kitimat and Haisla Nation – CEDI Partnership. Community Resiliency Award (community less than 20,000 population) winner was the City of Prince Rupert – Watson Island.
Majority of BC’ers Fear Being Victims of Crime
BRITISH COLUMBIA – A recent Research Co. public opinion survey confirms that more than half of British Columbians think crime has worsened in the past four years and 51 per cent fear they will be a victim of crime. The survey also indicates that 56 per cent of BC residents blame addiction and mental health issues for the dire circumstances being experienced in their communities.
CommunityFutures BC Receives $3.9M to Support Rural Business
BRITISH COLUMBIA – To mark Economic Development Week, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) announced support of $3.9 million to Community Futures British Columbia.
“The financial support from PacifiCan is significant and will strengthen Community Futures’ capacity, giving us greater ability to continue to deliver quality and timely supports to the businesses in rural British Columbia,” said Troy Dungate, Volunteer Chair Community Futures British Columbia. Community Futures British Columbia fosters entrepreneurship and economic development in rural B.C. through its 34 member offices and receives funding from PacifiCan to help British Columbians start, grow and expand their businesses.
Highway Improvements Coming To Nothern BC
NORTHERN BC – The Smithers area will have approximately 28 kilometres of highway and side roads repaved. This includes paving 21 kilometres on Highway 16 from Witset to Nouch Road, and seven kilometres of side roads, including Old Babine Road, Hudson Bay Mountain Road and Slack Road. This $7.5-million project is expected to be complete by the end of summer 2024.
In the Terrace area, 27 kilometres of Highway 37S are being resurfaced from the roundabout at the junction with Highway 16 to Onion Lake, as well as one kilometre along Beam Station Road. The $8.5-million project is scheduled to be complete in the summer. Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes, with work taking place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Other major resurfacing projects taking place in the region this spring and summer include: Highway 97 Chetwynd Area (30 kilometres) – Conventional asphalt resurfacing; Highway 16 Lasalle Lake to West Twin Bridge (17 kilometres) – Conventional asphalt resurfacing; Highway 37 Pinetree Lake to Good Hope (46 kilometres) – Graded aggregate sealcoat resurfacing; Highway 37 North Stikine Hill (12 kilometres) – Graded aggregate sealcoat resurfacing; Highway 29 Chetwynd to Cameron Lake (39 kilometres) – Hot-in-place recycling asphalt resurfacing and Pineview Area Sideroads (35 kilometres) – Graded aggregate sealcoat resurfacing.
BC Northern Real Estate Board MLS® Stats April 2024
NORTHERN BC – The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the BC Northern Real Estate Board totaled 358 units in April 2024. This was an increase of 24.3% from April 2023. Home sales were 2.5% above the five-year average and 2.2% below the 10-year average for the month of April. On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled 1,052 units over the first four months of the year. This was a sizable gain of 15.7% from the same period in 2023. The average price of homes sold in April 2024 was $434,772, increasing by 7.8% from April 2023.
Prince George Building Permits for March 2024
PRINCE GEORGE – Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Development – One (1) institutional building alteration ($720,000). Residential Development – Six (6) new duplex dwellings ($1,658,036); Five (5) new multi-family dwellings ($1,455,856); and Two (2) new single-family dwellings ($1,100,000).
The Department has also approved the following Development Permit for the month of March 2024: DP100826 – 6172 Otway Road – Riparian Protection Development Permit for the construction of ten (10) open sided structures for RV storage; DP100851 – 160 Ontario Street – Multiple Residential Development Permit for the development of a 52-unit supportive housing project; DP100867 – 3250 Massey Drive – Commercial Form and Character Development Permit for an addition and façade improvement at McDonald’s Restaurant and DP100868 – 410 Moffat Street – Intensive Residential Development Permit for the construction of a cottage house.
Business Examiner Staff
