Premier John Horgan says good reasons to be optimistic about restart

Premier John Horgan says British Columbia's restart is gaining ground as some industries resume operations and more people leave their homes to participate in the economy.

He says the number of passengers on transit and ferries is growing, and television and movie productions have restarted, as well as restaurants serving more customers.

Horgan says B.C.'s successful efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the willingness of people to spend more time out in public leave him optimistic.

The latest B.C. job numbers are due Friday and Finance Minister Carole James is releasing a fiscal update next week.

The federal government's fiscal update Wednesday forecast a deficit of more than $343 billion and up to two million people unemployed.

Last month, B.C.'s jobless rate was 13.4 per cent, with more than 350,000 jobs lost since the start of the pandemic.