National Business

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed wealthy financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary Tuesday, putting in place a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump's hardline trade polices.

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government has introduced a $17.6-billion budget that includes major tax cuts and a reserve fund to be used if the U.S. president makes good on his threat to impose crippling tariffs on Canadian exports.

GRAPEVINE — GameStop Corp. says it intends to pursue a sale of its Canadian and French operations. The video game retailers says in a press release that the move is part of an evaluation of its international assets.

TORONTO — When Kevin Drew was invited to guest star in “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,” his initial response was a hard pass.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's government has put forward a bill that would lift blanket bans on uranium exploration and hydraulic fracking of fossil fuels — a move the premier says will make the province more self-reliant in the face of potential U.S.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose Tuesday, helped by strength in the energy sector as the prices for oil and natural gas climbed, while U.S. stock markets eked out gains. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 165.61 points at 25,648.

LARK HARBOUR, N.L. — Rough weather on Tuesday forced salvage specialists to abandon their inspection of a large cargo ship that ran aground in a rocky cove along Newfoundland’s west coast on the weekend.

EDMONTON — An Alberta oil and gas company has been fined $15,000 for failing to report a potentially lethal amount of hydrogen sulphide, or sour gas, had been released into the atmosphere.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street fluttered to a record after U.S. stock indexes drifted through a mixed day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 0.2% Tuesday to finish just above its all-time closing high set last month.

TORONTO — A running list of election promises announced by the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens in the province's snap election campaign. The vote is set for Feb. 27. Progressive Conservatives Feb.