People now have access to two new online community planning tools, offering easy access to data-driven insights and investment opportunities for communities across B.C.
Available to the public and local governments, including municipalities and regional districts, the Community Information Tool and the Community Investment Opportunities Tool provide central access points for community data, encouraging economic development and helping community planners and investment organizations thrive in the digital economy.
“I’m excited for the launch of these new planning tools as part of our efforts to offer a better, faster and easier service for people, businesses, and Indigenous and local governments searching online for data about communities in B.C.,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “Whether you work for a municipality or you’re a business owner, investor or community member interested in insights and opportunities, these tools can give you access to important community data.”
As part of the StrongerBC Economic Recovery Plan, the Ministry of Citizens’ Services received $700,000 to develop the Community Information Tool, including the integration of industrial lands data, which helps investors and planners identify industrial land vacancies for investment opportunities. The Community Information Tool and Community Investment Opportunities Tool are part of a suite of data-driven planning tools being developed under StrongerBC to provide communities with accessible resources for economic and community growth.
“Community development supports our work to build an innovative, sustainable and inclusive economy for all British Columbians,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “Throughout the province, we’ve listened to local people’s need for community planning resources. Easy, accessible tools like these will allow our communities to strengthen and grow, helping to drive economic recovery as we emerge from the pandemic together.”
The Community Information Tool combines more than 40 public data sets, including census information, Data BC, the B.C. Data Catalogue and industrial lands information into one visual resource. The tool allows people to collect location-based data that they would typically need to search for on several websites. Categories include population, median household income, labour force, key sectors and connectivity. Users can also discover insights and patterns among B.C. communities using search filters for specific characteristics, such as economic health, access to education and health care, connectivity, infrastructure or emergency management.
Powered by the same database, the Community Investment Opportunities Tool connects investors with industrial, commercial and agricultural properties available for investment throughout the province. Community representatives can post properties available for sale or lease to investors. Interested investors can search for available opportunities by filtering based on various criteria.
The tools will assist economic planners to promote investment and plan infrastructure, helping level the economic development playing field between larger, well-resourced communities and smaller communities that might not have similar market access.
Quotes:
Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development –
“Meaningful community economic development is built on good information. So especially for rural B.C., easy-to-access and inclusive resources like this are a huge value for helping our communities thrive and grow. The launch of the Community Information Tool and the Community Investment Opportunities Tool will help people throughout British Columbia who are coming together to recover and rebuild stronger. These resources will support innovative and creative community development, and we are all excited to see that.”
Graham Truax, executive director, Innovation Island Technology Association –
“Accessible, inclusive resources like these online tools are important for community development. The launch of the Community Information Tool and the Community Investment Opportunities Tool comes at a time when people throughout British Columbia are coming together to recover and rebuild. These resources will make way for the kind of community development we are all looking forward to seeing.”
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology, base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets also fell.
The S&P/TSX composite index was down 239.24 points at 22,749.04.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 312.36 points at 40,443.39. The S&P 500 index was down 80.94 points at 5,422.47, while the Nasdaq composite was down 380.17 points at 16,747.49.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.80 cents US compared with 74.00 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down US$1.07 at US$68.08 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.26 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$2.10 at US$2,541.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.10 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in technology, financial and energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 171.41 points at 23,298.39.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 278.37 points at 41,369.79. The S&P 500 index was up 38.17 points at 5,630.35, while the Nasdaq composite was up 177.15 points at 17,733.18.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.19 cents US compared with 74.23 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up US$1.75 at US$76.27 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.10 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$2,556.50 an ounce and the December copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.22 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.
The crypto market has recently experienced a significant downturn, mirroring broader risk asset sell-offs. Over the past week, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 24%, reaching $53,000, while Ethereum plummeted nearly a third to $2,340. Major altcoins also suffered, with Cardano down 27.7%, Solana 36.2%, Dogecoin 34.6%, XRP 23.1%, Shiba Inu 30.1%, and BNB 25.7%.
The severe downturn in the crypto market appears to be part of a broader flight to safety, triggered by disappointing economic data. A worse-than-expected unemployment report on Friday marked the beginning of a technical recession, as defined by the Sahm Rule. This rule identifies a recession when the three-month average unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point in the past year.
Friday’s figures met this threshold, signaling an abrupt economic downshift. Consequently, investors sought safer assets, leading to declines in major stock indices: the S&P 500 dropped 2%, the Nasdaq 2.5%, and the Dow 1.5%. This trend continued into Monday with further sell-offs overseas.
The crypto market’s rapid decline raises questions about its role as either a speculative asset or a hedge against inflation and recession. Despite hopes that crypto could act as a risk hedge, the recent crash suggests it remains a speculative investment.
Since the downturn, the crypto market has seen its largest three-day sell-off in nearly a year, losing over $500 billion in market value. According to CoinGlass data, this bloodbath wiped out more than $1 billion in leveraged positions within the last 24 hours, including $365 million in Bitcoin and $348 million in Ether.
Khushboo Khullar of Lightning Ventures, speaking to Bloomberg, argued that the crypto sell-off is part of a broader liquidity panic as traders rush to cover margin calls. Khullar views this as a temporary sell-off, presenting a potential buying opportunity.
Josh Gilbert, an eToro market analyst, supports Khullar’s perspective, suggesting that the expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could benefit crypto assets. “Crypto assets have sold off, but many investors will see an opportunity. We see Federal Reserve rate cuts, which are now likely to come sharper than expected, as hugely positive for crypto assets,” Gilbert told Coindesk.
Despite the recent volatility, crypto continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. Notably, Morgan Stanley will allow its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs starting Wednesday. This follows more than half a year after the introduction of the first Bitcoin ETF. The investment bank will enable over 15,000 of its financial advisors to sell BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. This move is seen as a significant step toward the “mainstreamization” of crypto, given the lengthy regulatory and company processes in major investment banks.
The recent crypto market downturn highlights its volatility and the broader economic concerns affecting all risk assets. While some analysts see the current situation as a temporary sell-off and a buying opportunity, others caution against the speculative nature of crypto. As the market evolves, its role as a mainstream alternative asset continues to grow, marked by increasing institutional acceptance and new investment opportunities.
