An economist says the Canadian housing market could be in for a rebound this year after a cautious 2023.
T-D Bank economist Rishi Sondhi says that optimism depends largely on the forecasts of the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates, which may begin as early as the second quarter.
Home prices softened in several areas late last year, including in the Fraser Valley.
Vancouver Realtor Tim Hill says he is optimistic of consumer sentiments slowly shifting as prices improve in recent months.
A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at a Victoria area hospital. Island Health says in a statement the outbreak was declared Thursday at the centre unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital, with 15 patients infected and all experiencing mild illness.
Canada Post, the primary postal operator in the country, has issued a new stamp celebrating the arrival of Diwali, the festival of lights observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and other communities across the world. The stamp, which was released in a special booklet of six, costing CA$ 5.52, is available for purchase at post offices across the country.
Brampton-based Ste Louise Outreach Centre of Peel said it cannot provide enough food and other supplies to its customers as the number of foreign students turning up at the outlet has been soaring since September, the CBC news channel reported. A food bank is a charitable organisation that collects safe, nutritious food, and redistributes it to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
The City of Surrey says its bylaw officers seized a record 345-thousand dollars worth of fireworks over the last three weeks. Mayor Brenda Locke says the work sends a strong message that illegal fireworks will not be tolerated in Surrey.
Remembrance Day services will be staged across British Columbia tomorrow, but wild weather hitting the south coast may test the resolve of attendees. A weather front bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 90 kilometres an hour is forecast to cross the coast this evening, and although the winds could ease in time for services tomorrow morning, soaking rain is expected across the Lower Mainland, including Vancouver.
Police say a man and his 11-year-old son were intentionally shot and killed in a vehicle in Edmonton on Thursday. They identified the father as 41-year-old Harpreet Uppal, a high-level gang member involved in the drug trade. Police did not identify the boy.