According to the CFIB’s Business Barometer, optimism on small business held steady in January, remaining close to its historical average of 60 at 59.5 percent. Looking ahead this year, many small businesses are cautiously optimistic for 2026. About 40 percent of small businesses are affected by capital equipment and technology costs. The short-term optimism index, based on a 3-month outlook, rose by 4.2 points to 52.4. The index is based on 12-month forward expectations for b

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador says it is actively negotiating with Equinor to advance the Bay du Nord offshore oil project, calling suggestions the development is stalled inaccurate. Premier Tony Wakeham said the province supports responsible offshore oil development and intends to remain a competitive jurisdiction. “We are unequivocal in this position,” Wakeham said, adding the government is working with Equinor “in good faith” to reach an agreement that benefi

Facebook Unifor A staple in the downtown area of St. John's is closing down. Dominion, located at 20 Lake Avenue, will close on May 8. The store is located in the former Memorial Stadium on the shore of Quidi Vidi Lake. The store opened in 2007. Unifor represents employees impacted, and Unifor Local 597 President Carolyn Wrice said, “Unifor will work closely with the employer to ensure every provision of the agreement is fully upheld.” Dominion Stores is the primary brand na

Premier Tony Wakeham is happy with Canada's new trade deal with China that will see the removal of anti-discrimination tariffs on lobsters and crabs, along with other goods. In a statement, Wakeham said, "With Newfoundland and Labrador being a significant Canadian seafood exporter to China, this is welcome news for our coastal communities." Canada expects that these products will not be subject to relevant tariffs from March 1, 2026, until at least the end of this year.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new strategic partnership with the People’s Republic of China on Friday, marking a major shift in Canada–China relations after years of strained ties. Carney made the announcement following meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during his first official visit to China. The agreement focuses on expanding trade, energy cooperation and agricultural exports. Ottawa says the partnership is aimed at diversifying Canad

The largest toy store in St. John’s is closing its doors. The Toys “R” Us location at the Woodgate Plaza at 58 Kenmount Road, the only Toys “R” Us store in the province, is selling off all inventory. No date for the closure has been announced. The Toys “R” Us brand has been owned by a Canadian company since 2018. It operated independently of its U.S. counperpart which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in 2017. Fairfax Financial acquired all the Canadian location

Unsplash Statistics Canada reports that building permit values in Canada were down 13.1 percent in November. Newfoundland had one of the biggest drops of 21.2 percent, coming in behind only Ontario, Manitoba, and Yukon. There were several provinces where the rate was in positive territory, including Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.

Unsplash The Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which has been around since 1973, allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary jobs when qualified Canadians are not available. The program, regulated through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, is administered in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. Employment and Social Developmen

Statistics Canada will be conducting a nationwide census this May and are hiring approximately 32,000 people for census jobs across Canada. A variety of supervisory and non-supervisory opportunities are available between March 2026 and July 2026, depending on the position and location. To be considered for a job, applicants must have reached the age of majority in their current province or territory of residence, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or possess a valid

Nationally, retail sales decreased 0.2 percent to $69.4 billion in October, according to Statistics Canada. Sales were down in four of nine subsectors, led by decreases at food and beverage retailers. Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were also down. In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.6 percent in October. In Newfoundland and Labrador, retail sales increased by 1.0 percent, totalling $1.1 billion.

In the last quarter, Canada has seen a population decrease. The population decreased by 76,068 people over the third quarter of 2025, standing at 41,575,585 on October 1. The primary reason for the decline was due to a drop in non-permanent residents. This trend is the result of changing government policies concerning international migration.

The Bank of Canada held its target for the overnight rate at 2.25 percent. The Bank Rate is at 2.5 percent and the deposit rate at 2.20 percent. The bank stated that economies around the world continue to show resilience to US trade protectionism, but uncertainty is still high. Canada’s economy grew by a in the third quarter, even as final domestic demand was flat. The increase in GDP largely reflected volatility in trade. Canada’s labour market is showing some signs of impro

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada will announce its decision on the target for the overnight rate. This will be the last adjustment of 2025. Back on October 29, the central bank set the rate to 2.25 percent, a decrease of 0.25 percent in September.

In October inflation was down slightly at 2.2 percent. In September, it was 2.4 percent. The decrease was largely due to gasoline prices, which fell at a faster pace compared with September, according to Statistics Canada. Excluding gasoline, inflation rose 2.6 percent in October, matching the increase in September. Slower growth in grocery prices further contributed to the deceleration in inflation in October, which was moderated by higher prices for cellular phone plans.

On Monday, Premier Tony Wakeham will host New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers at the 46th annual conference. Wakeham will be joined by co-chair Vermont Governor Phil Scott, along with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz, Nova Scotia Minister of Growth and Development Colton LeBlanc, Quebec Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy Christine Fréchette, Massachusetts Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources Elizabe

The Provincial Government has entered a non-binding memorandum of understanding with North Atlantic for the lease of the Bull Arm site.  ...

There are some changes to the Credit Union Regulations. Credit unions and their clients in the province can avail of financial support...

The minimum wage in the province will be increasing on April 1, 2025. The minimum wage will increase by $0.40. As of April 1, 2025, the...

Today, the provincial government announced a new initiative to help build awareness of the importance of buying products that are made or...

The City of St. John's released its budget on Tuesday. The 2025 Budget is balanced at $349,151,881, an increase of 1.5 percent from last...