Business

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, front left, responds to questions as Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendocino listens during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver on Sunday, November 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Opposition, experts praise new Indo-Pacific strategy but want implementation plan

Strategy promises nearly $2.3 billion in new spending over five years, outlines approach to China

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, front left, responds to questions as Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendocino listens during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver on Sunday, November 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Board member jasbir Sandhu, councillor Leith White, councillor Delaney Mack, board president Sandra Benz, board member Dale Barker, and councillor Paul Albrecht at the unveiling of the glowing bench. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)

Fraser Valley Real Estate Board unveils a glowing bench at McBurney Plaza

Donation was to celebrate the board’s 100th anniversary

Board member jasbir Sandhu, councillor Leith White, councillor Delaney Mack, board president Sandra Benz, board member Dale Barker, and councillor Paul Albrecht at the unveiling of the glowing bench. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
People line up at the Toronto Premium Outlets mall on Black Friday for shopping sales, in Milton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Experts say they expect big blowout sales and blockbuster one-day deals this Black Friday will draw consumers to stores in numbers not seen since pre-pandemic days.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

A muted Black Friday for Canadians amid inflation, online shopping and longer deals

Retailers have stretched deals over several weeks and offered similar discounts online

People line up at the Toronto Premium Outlets mall on Black Friday for shopping sales, in Milton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Experts say they expect big blowout sales and blockbuster one-day deals this Black Friday will draw consumers to stores in numbers not seen since pre-pandemic days.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A ground worker walks under one of the wings of a WestJet Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft after it arrived at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Canada’s Transport Minister met with airlines and airports to ensure reliable service for travellers ahead of what is expected to be a busy travel season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa, air sector discuss industry concerns ahead of winter travel season

High volumes and inadequate staffing contributed to a summer of lost baggage and flight disruptions

A ground worker walks under one of the wings of a WestJet Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft after it arrived at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Canada’s Transport Minister met with airlines and airports to ensure reliable service for travellers ahead of what is expected to be a busy travel season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s strong economy, inflation concerns part of fiscal picture, minister says

Selina Robinson set to present province’s quarterly budget

Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks during a press conference at Goudy Field in Langford, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Shoppers looking for bargains enter an OshKosh children clothing store, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Miami, Fla. Bargain hunting is back with full force heading into the holidays. But inflation is limiting how much of a deal consumers will be getting. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Shoppers hunt for deals but inflation makes bargains elusive

‘Everything went up so my little nest egg disappeared a whole lot quicker than I expected’

Shoppers looking for bargains enter an OshKosh children clothing store, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Miami, Fla. Bargain hunting is back with full force heading into the holidays. But inflation is limiting how much of a deal consumers will be getting. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem waits to appear before the House of Commons Finance Committee, Wednesday, November 23, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Inflation relief measures should be well-targeted and temporary, says Macklem

Bank of Canada governor tells feds to focus on policies aimed at mitigating effects on citizens

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem waits to appear before the House of Commons Finance Committee, Wednesday, November 23, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Rogers and Shaw applications are pictured on a cellphone in Ottawa on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Competition watchdog pushes back on concerns Shaw has about its business

Rogers wants to close the Shaw deal by the end of the year

Rogers and Shaw applications are pictured on a cellphone in Ottawa on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released an annual report Nov. 22, 2022 revealing the price tags on the province’s 2021 disasters and pandemic relief funds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Billions: B.C. auditor highlights costs of 2021 disasters, pandemic relief payments

Province owed nearly $10.5 million from people who wrongfully collected COVID relief funds: report

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released an annual report Nov. 22, 2022 revealing the price tags on the province’s 2021 disasters and pandemic relief funds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.5 per cent to $61.1 billion in September led by a drop in sales at gasoline stations and food and beverage stores. People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Statistics Canada reports retail sales down 0.5% in September

Sales drop led by gas stations along with food and beverage stores

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.5 per cent to $61.1 billion in September led by a drop in sales at gasoline stations and food and beverage stores. People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives with Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm, left, and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, right, for a tour of a new pilot project for a blue smelting facility at the Rio Tinto plant, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 in Sorel, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canada’s battery supply credibility jumps as multi-billion announcements keep coming

Canada ahead of everyone but China in annual global ranking of battery-producing countries

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives with Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm, left, and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, right, for a tour of a new pilot project for a blue smelting facility at the Rio Tinto plant, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 in Sorel, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The Voyager RV Centre dealership is located in Lake Country. (Contributed)

Lake Country RV dealership one of top 5 in North America

Voyager RV Centre celebrated at a reception in Las Vegas

The Voyager RV Centre dealership is located in Lake Country. (Contributed)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

FIFA revenue hits $7.5B for current World Cup period

Commercial deals tied to 2022 World Cup in Qatar

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at a press conference Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Erin Tobler, Arnold Tobler, Jack Bensley, Angus Deboth, Travis Keyworth, Kati Trip, Claire Demers at BCBA award ceremony. Langley Farm Country Brewing Inc. also won two gold medals at Canada Cup of Beer. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Once ‘devastated’ by pandemic, Langley brewery pegs away to win medals at beer competitions

Wins came just about a month before the brewery’s third anniversary

Erin Tobler, Arnold Tobler, Jack Bensley, Angus Deboth, Travis Keyworth, Kati Trip, Claire Demers at BCBA award ceremony. Langley Farm Country Brewing Inc. also won two gold medals at Canada Cup of Beer. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Electric vehicle sales in Canada grew by more than one-third in the first half of this year but they're not keeping pace with the rest of the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada falling behind as electric-vehicle sales pick up around the world

Battery-electric and plug-in hybrids accounted for nearly 1 in every 8 vehicles sold worldwide

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Electric vehicle sales in Canada grew by more than one-third in the first half of this year but they're not keeping pace with the rest of the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A digital-only coupon for Pampers brand baby wipes is displayed at a Kroger in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2022. A coalition of consumer groups is calling on grocers to stop offering digital-only deals, saying they discriminate against people without smartphones or regular internet access.(AP Photo/Dee-Ann Durbin)

Consumer groups want grocers to ditch digital-only deals

Equity concerns after study found that 25% of Americans 65 or older don’t use the internet

A digital-only coupon for Pampers brand baby wipes is displayed at a Kroger in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2022. A coalition of consumer groups is calling on grocers to stop offering digital-only deals, saying they discriminate against people without smartphones or regular internet access.(AP Photo/Dee-Ann Durbin)
CRTC Chair Ian Scott waits to appear before the Heritage Committee on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. The chair of Canada’s broadcasting regulator says a controversial online streaming bill will not result in the policing of user-generated content or the mandating of specific algorithms on platforms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

CRTC chair says online streaming bill won’t police user-generated content, algorithms

Bill creates policy framework that would apply to giants such as YouTube, TikTok and Spotify

CRTC Chair Ian Scott waits to appear before the Heritage Committee on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. The chair of Canada’s broadcasting regulator says a controversial online streaming bill will not result in the policing of user-generated content or the mandating of specific algorithms on platforms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Christian Dea of Transport Canada responds to a question as he testifies at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Wednesday, November 16, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Winter ‘Freedom Convoy’ blockades cost billions to Canada’s economy, inquiry hears

Estimates from Transport Canada indicate as much as $3.9 billion in trade activity halted

Christian Dea of Transport Canada responds to a question as he testifies at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Wednesday, November 16, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
This Sept 29, 2022 photo shows a set of handmade soy and beeswax candles in the shape of mountains by Cai Cai Handmade. (AP Photo/Leanne Italie)

From Wordle to sweets, holiday gift ideas for the grown-ups

Spoil the adult in your life by pleasing a child at heart this holiday season

This Sept 29, 2022 photo shows a set of handmade soy and beeswax candles in the shape of mountains by Cai Cai Handmade. (AP Photo/Leanne Italie)
Freybe Gourmet Foods president Angela Doro accepted the business award. Freybe has been in business since 1844, in Canada since 1955, and in Aldergrove/Langley since 2001. (C.K. Wright/Special to The Star)

Langley chamber crowns Freybe best big business of the year

Aldergrove meat manufacturer, with close to 500 staff, lauded by business advocacy organization

  • Nov 15, 2022
Freybe Gourmet Foods president Angela Doro accepted the business award. Freybe has been in business since 1844, in Canada since 1955, and in Aldergrove/Langley since 2001. (C.K. Wright/Special to The Star)