National Business

OTTAWA — Canada's merchandise trade deficit widened to $1.9 billion in May as exports fell to their lowest level since July last year. The result compared with a revised trade deficit of $1.3 billion for April, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

VANCOUVER — Greater Vancouver's real estate board says the number of homes sold in June tumbled 19.1 per cent from the previous year as inventory continued accumulating to levels not seen since the spring of 2019.

TORONTO — Ontario plans to help the province's beleaguered news industry with a change in advertising rules. The province has directed its four largest agencies to spend 25 per cent of its advertising dollars on Ontario publishers.

Health Canada says thousands of heat pumps sold in the country are being recalled over a risk of excessive heat exposure. The recall includes multiple models of Daikin, Amana and Goodman-branded heat pumps.

TORONTO — Ontario pension fund manager OMERS has signed a deal to sell medical lab company LifeLabs to U.S.-based firm Quest Diagnostics in a deal valued at $1.35 billion including debt.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits inched up last week and remain historically low, however the total number of people collecting jobless benefits continues to grow.

To save the imperiled spotted owl from potential extinction, U.S.

HALIFAX — The tax base for municipalities across Nova Scotia isn't keeping up with the cost of services and programs, and local governments need to get creative in finding new revenue, including by asking Ottawa for a cut of personal income taxes.

Arbitration doesn't typically spur a strike. If anything, the reverse occurs.

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. new-vehicle sales rose only slightly in the second quarter, despite larger discounts and slightly lower prices.