National Business

OTTAWA — The federal government ran a deficit of nearly $69 billion over the first half its fiscal year, almost $130 billion less than the treasury pumped out during the same stretch one year earlier.

TORONTO — When the December holidays near, Lee Piccoli will thank his staff for a year of hard work over an informal toast at his homebuilding company's Guelph, Ont. office.

CALGARY — Mexican regulators have given their approval to Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.'s deal to buy U.S. railway Kansas City Southern.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (21,613.18, up 64.75 points.) Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Financials. Up 15 cents, or 0.61 per cent, to $24.93 on 13.

GATINEAU, Que. — BCE Inc. urged the CRTC to reject Rogers Communications Inc.'s $26-billion proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. on Thursday, while independent operators have called for more safeguards.

CALGARY — Canada’s main stock index ticked slightly higher Thursday, driven largely by gains in the technology sector on what was otherwise a quiet trading day due to the Thanksgiving holiday south of the border.

MOSCOW (AP) — A devastating explosion in a Siberian coal mine Thursday left 52 miners and rescuers dead about 250 meters (820 feet) underground, Russian officials said.

OTTAWA — The C.D. Howe Institute thinks the Bank of Canada should issue a digital currency that can be converted into cash.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The European Union's drug regulator on Thursday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for use on children from 5 to 11 years old, clearing the way for shots to be administered to millions of elementary school pupils am

Canadians are upbeat heading into the holidays as the return of celebrations, a waning pandemic, robust savings and low unemployment are expected to bolster consumer confidence and spending, according to several new retail surveys released ahead of t