Automotive industry hit hard

WINDSOR, Ont. — Automakers in Canada scaled back production Thursday and braced for continued disruptions as trucker blockades at U.S. border crossings worsen an industry-wide parts shortage. Shipping delays are rippling through the economy amid ongoing protests against COVID-19 measures that have idled Canada-bound traffic on the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ont. The […]

More pressure for supply chain

Amid production delays, delivery backlogs and bottlenecked ports, trucker blockades at U.S. border crossing points have added more pressure to an already overloaded supply chain, with food products particularly vulnerable. Since Monday, protesters have cut off Canada-bound traffic on the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ont.—the busiest crossing between the two countries—in a show […]

Used car sales take jump

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants say used car sales increased 5% last year amid semiconductor shortages that hampered the new car market and drove buyers to used car lots. A survey of 450 members of the Used Car Dealers Association found that an average of 250 used vehicles per franchised and independent dealer were sold […]

Businesses need to step up

OTTAWA — The governor of the Bank of Canada says higher interest rates are coming, but businesses also need to boost productivity to help keep rising prices in check over the long term. Tiff Macklem, speaking virtually at a Canadian Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday, said businesses have an important role to play by increasing […]

Rising tide lifts all boats

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index gained more than 100 points in a broad-based rally, with only the energy sector falling along with crude oil prices. Financial markets were a bit choppy to start trading Tuesday but managed to gain some ground throughout the day and turned higher towards the close. The S&P/TSX composite index […]

Oil prices viewed with caution

CALGARY — Cenovus Energy Inc. will continue to keep a tight rein on capital spending even as crude prices surge to eight-year highs, the CEO of the Calgary-based oil producer said Tuesday. In a conference call with analysts, chief executive Alex Pourbaix said the company has been pleased to see oil’s recent rally to heights […]

Podcast companies under fire

NEW YORK — Like Facebook and Twitter, Spotify is learning the limits of deflecting responsibility for what is said on its platform. Podcasting has sprouted as an industry with few standards about policing offensive or misleading content. That has left Spotify trying to figure out how to keep podcaster Joe Rogan’s millions of devoted fans […]

Mandate not affecting TFI

MONTREAL — TFI International Inc. is virtually untouched by the recent vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the U.S.-Canada border, said the head of the Canada’s largest trucking conglomerate. “Vaccination at TFI is not an issue at all,” chairman and CEO Alain Bédard said Tuesday. “We have a few drivers that still say no, but what […]

Inflation numbers will tell story

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index dipped in the aftermath of its strongest week in nearly a year as North American markets eagerly await the release this week of U.S. inflation numbers for January. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 36.35 points to 21,235.50 for a 169-point swing Monday between intraday high and low. In […]

Airlines really want changes

Canada’s two main airlines continue to slash their schedules and demand that Ottawa roll back COVID-19 travel restrictions to staunch the cash bleed, though experts see glimmers of hope on the horizon. WestJet Airlines Ltd. has cancelled 20% of its flights in March, extending schedule cuts from February amid ongoing uncertainty that continues to drain […]