Indigenous

OTTAWA — Canada posted a merchandise trade deficit of $312 million in December, the first monthly trade deficit since July, as exports of cars and light trucks fell and lower oil prices weighed on energy shipments.

MARSEILLE, France — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the second round of the Open 13 Provence tennis tournament with a 6-2, 7-5 win over French wild-card Quentin Halys on Wednesday.

CALGARY — Police have laid drug-trafficking charges after a man allegedly handed out business cards with free samples of cocaine in Calgary.

Canada's Lauren Zaretsky can already cross winning an NCAA tournament off her goals list. The golfer from Thornhill, Ont., led from wire-to-wire to win the UCF Women's Challenge on Monday for her first-ever collegiate title.

Brady Tkachuk was convinced this season would be different. The Ottawa Senators captain felt the same about 2022-23. And the campaign before that. Former general manager Pierre Dorion confidently stated the team's rebuild was over in September 2021.

With the NFL on its Super Bowl bye week, the NHL took centre stage with Proline bettors. The hockey world converged on Toronto with the annual NHL all-star weekend. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid won the revamped skills competition.

MONTREAL — Laurentian Bank of Canada announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors. Board chair Michael Boychuk says Johanne Brunet, Jamey Hubbs and Paul Stinis have joined the board, effective today.

MONTREAL — Héroux-Devtek Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $9.0 million, up from $1.8 million a year earlier as its sales rose 16 per cent.

TORONTO — Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. raised its dividend as it reported a profit of US$95 million in its latest quarter from its stake in the asset management business it owns with Brookfield Corp.

CALGARY — Decorated para alpine ski champion Mac Marcoux announced his retirement Wednesday, but he isn't done with sport. The 26-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.