National Business

BILLINGS, Mont.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he hopes the cities of Edmonton and Calgary will stay in lockstep with the province when it comes to eventually lifting mask restrictions tied to COVID-19.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,002.27, down 63.65 points.) BlackBerry Ltd. (TSX:BB). Technology. Down 80 cents, or 4.19 per cent, to $18.30 on 11.

TORONTO — Ontario's reopening plan is being lambasted by some of the country's top retail and cinema executives, who argue the plan will further gut businesses after enduring one of the world's longest lockdowns.

CALGARY — Experts say a joint strategy by Canada's largest oilsands producers to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will help speed up innovation and drive further investment into the industry.

TORONTO — North American stock markets fell midweek as investors await U.S. inflation numbers Thursday that could trigger early tapering action by the Federal Reserve.

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada has left its economic aid package untouched, brushing off shortfalls in growth figures so far this year and seeing a more solid foundation for a strong rebound in the coming months.

Travel agencies say the Canadian government's plan to end quarantine hotel stays for some returning travellers is a big step for the travel industry, but air industry associations say more changes are necessary for a full rebound to take shape.

HALIFAX — George Avgeropoulos said he’s spent the last month looking for skilled workers to staff his restaurant in Toronto’s Danforth area. "I've found people but no one knows what they're doing,” the owner of Athens Restaurant said in an interview.

Dollarama Inc.'s sales climbed by double digits in its latest quarter despite some of its stores facing tougher new retail restrictions amid rising COVID-19 cases, the Montreal-based retailer said Wednesday.