TORONTO – Ontario has reintroduced capacity limits at restaurants, bars and retailers, and capping indoor social gatherings at 10 people in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The province is also limiting outdoor gatherings to 25, and prohibiting food and drink consumption at sports arenas, cinemas […]
National Business
By Martin Crutsinger
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. industrial production increased 0.5% in November as output at the nation’s factories reached the highest level since January 2019. The November gain followed an even larger 1.7% increase in October, a rebound from a 1% decline in September, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday. There were severe […]
By David Mchugh
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – The European Central Bank decided Thursday to avoid an abrupt end to its pandemic crisis support for the economy as the new omicron variant of COVID-19 stirs uncertainty about the recovery, despite inflation hitting record highs and the U.S. speeding up its stimulus exit. The cautious […]
By Paul Wiseman
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week despite signs that the U.S. labor market is rebounding from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims rose by 18,000 to a 206,000, still low by historical standards. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, fell […]
By Noushin Ziafati
THE CANADIAN PRESS
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO – The Toronto Region Board of Trade is calling on the provincial government to implement a framework that will increase density and housing options across Ontario. In a report released Tuesday, the chamber of commerce proposes a provincial framework that eliminates exclusionary zoning policies that prohibit different “missing middle” […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Canada’s central bank has been told to keep the annual pace of price gains at its historic target, but also to help build up the labour market. Since 1991, the Bank of Canada has targeted an annual inflation rate of between one and three per cent, often landing […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO – The Ontario government has appointed nine members to a task force that will advise the province on ways to address housing supply and affordability. The Housing Affordability Task Force is expected to look into measures to boost the supply of rental and ownership housing, build housing in complete […]
By Laura Osman
THE CANADIAN PRESS
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canada’s biomanufacturing sector has rebounded beyond his initial expectations in the last several months, as a Canadian drug maker stands poised to bring positive results from the first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine to Health Canada. At the outset of the pandemic, Canada’s lack of […]
By Martin Crutsinger
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $67.1 billion in October, the lowest in six months, after hitting a record high in September. A big rebound in exports helped to offset a much smaller rise in imports. The October deficit was 17.6% below the all-time peak in September […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO – Ontario’s foremost liquor purveyor is urging residents to stock up early this holiday season to prevent any supply chain-induced disappointments. The LCBO says transportation issues and the “ongoing considerations of COVID-19” – including changes to consumer demand – have led to a booze shortage. The Crown corporation’s chief […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO – Dye & Durham Ltd. has signed a deal to buy Telus’ financial solutions business for $500 million. The financial solutions business provides a national payment infrastructure that helps people make payments online. The business also helps connect Canadian financial institutions with lawyers when doing residential real estate transactions. […]
THE CANADIAN PRESS
WASHINGTON – Canada’s trade minister has headed back to the U.S. capital for discussions on festering trade irritants, just two weeks after joining Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his visit to the White House. Mary Ng met virtually Tuesday with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to talk about a number […]
