Tony Wanless

On Thursday, January 24, federal citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism minister Jason Kenney unveiled a new Canadian visa to lure some of the world’s high-tech talent away from the U.S. to Canada. Under this new visa class, tech immigrants and their teams would receive instant permanent-resident status. This brings to fruition B.C.

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new $400-million fund to support Canada’s venture-capital industry two weeks ago, the usual Bay Street pundits decried the idea as, among other things, government interference in the marketplace. The fund, called the Venture Capital Action Plan, will divide its money among a clutch of...

At this time of year most people are busily trying to fulfill resolutions by reviving regular exercise programs. And many are failing. But a new app for the yoga chain Yyoga turns that routine into a game in which friends help each other stay on the righteous path. So when is...

Since we’re a couple of weeks into 2013, let’s see how your goals are shaping up. Yes, goals. We all set them even if we go around telling everyone that we don’t indulge in that kind of fantasy. Presumably, the goals you have created are SMART, as in specific, measurable, attainable, realistic...

The recent announcement that TransCanada has been selected to build a $5-billion pipeline to the B.C. coast indicates that it’s full-speed ahead for B.C.’s natural gas industry. While most B.C. residents are focused — mostly negatively — on the Northern Gateway heavy oil pipeline, gas producers in the province are quietly...

Now that the New Year has come, it’s time to look at the state of Vancouver’s favourite sports. By that I mean, of course, hockey and real estate. Both are obsessions here in B.C., particularly in Vancouver. And both are buoyed by delusion. Hockey’s back, or soon will be, and the...

A couple of weather incidents on the new and mightily expensive Port Mann bridge have many commuters and critics fuming. But let’s point those (icy) fingers where they really belong -- at nature -- and ourselves. First, great chunks of...

First, great chunks of ice fell off the new, $2.25-billion Port Mann Bridge onto commuters' cars after a snowstorm. Then last week it was slick and icy surfaces that caused some 40 accidents. Obviously, commuters, critics, the press and all the usual government opponents were somewhat iced off when the “world’s...

B.C.’s lack of corporate HQs is less dire for specialized shops. When the marketplace for business services contains only a few large clients and their correspondingly large suppliers, smaller companies have to find alternatives in order to survive.

Who works the week before Christmas? Nobody, that's who. You're reading this, aren't you? Keeping browsing for tips on killing time before Christmas vacation. Admit it – you’re just killing time until the big day, right? So why not pretend you’re actually doing something? Stare intently at your computer while furiously typing. Make crazy sounds as if you’re really involved. Who’s to know that you’re really involved in nothing but big time sucks.

The iconic Canadian band Rush will be accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, largely because of their business savvy. Today, I’m saying to heck with traditional business. There is something far more important going on. Rush has finally been accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Yes, that approval of the $15-billion Nexen takeover by a Chinese state-owned company certainly warranted attention. But far more important to B.C. was an approval for a smaller deal involving natural gas. You don’t usually hear this from me, but I think that was a pretty deft play that Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled off recently when he approved a Chinese takeover of Calgary-based oil producer Nexen Inc.