Monthly Archive: April 2018

A quarter of buyers compromised on the size of their home, while 18 per cent made concessions on its location

OTTAWA — The Aecon construction firm will likely retain its ability to bid on government-funded infrastructure projects even if Ottawa approves a Chinese state-owned company’s controversial proposal to take it over, an internal federal document says. Last October, the CCCC International Holding Ltd. of China made a $1.5-billion bid to acquire Aecon Group Inc., which […]

OTTAWA — China’s ambassador says his country firmly rejects Canada’s attempts to entrench labour standards in a free trade pact. Envoy Lu Shaye says Canada’s so-called progressive trade agenda has no place in a free trade agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was unable to persuade China’s leaders to formally entrench labour, gender, environment and governance […]

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government tabled its budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year on Tuesday. Here are some of the highlights: — Sales of energy-efficient appliances, as well as used cars and light trucks above $5,000, will no longer be exempt from the provincial sales tax. — The government is backtracking on an earlier promise […]

REGINA — Here are some of the winners and losers in Saskatchewan’s budget tabled Tuesday: WINNERS: Police: The budget includes $4.9 million in new money to combat rural crime, including 30 new police traffic-safety positions. Agriculture: A new 15 per cent tax credit will be established for agriculture facilities that invest at least $10 million […]

Senators pressed Facebook Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg at the start of two days of congressional testimony over his company’s failure to protect the privacy of millions of its users, warning that they wanted more than just apologies and promises to do better. “The idea that for every person who decided to try an app, information […]

MONTREAL — The World Trade Organization says its dispute settlement body has agreed to establish two panels to examine Canada’s complaint about duties imposed by the United States on softwood lumber imports. The Canadian government requested March 27 that a panel be set up to examine the dispute after consultations with the U.S. in January […]

CALGARY — The potential cancellation of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is putting a spotlight on oilpatch innovations that might mitigate the need for export capacity as oilsands production rises. But even the most ardent supporters of the new technologies agree Canada is going to need new pipeline space. North West Refining president Ian MacGregor […]

TORONTO — Optimism about the Canadian economy in the first quarter fell to its lowest level since 2016 in a poll of senior accounting executives. The survey by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada says optimism in the first quarter of this year fell to 34 per cent compared with 48 per cent in the […]

THETFORD, Vt. — Was your tomato grown in dirt or water? Organic shoppers might notice additional labels this summer that will give them the answer — and tell them whether their choices align with what a rebellious group of farmers and scientists deem the true spirit of the organic movement. About 15 farmers and scientists […]