WestJet adds Starlink Wi-Fi

MONTREAL — WestJet has launched an on-board Wi-Fi service powered by Starlink, the satellite internet technology made by Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, sparking a limited backlash from Canadians. In an email, the airline confirmed it activated the service earlier this month and now offers free Wi-Fi on 16 of its nearly 140 planes after […]

More trade with China possible

OTTAWA — Beijing’s ambassador to Canada says China is interested in stepping up trade with Ottawa, arguing the U.S. is pursuing a trade war that will hurt the global economy as it struggles to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, Wang Di says Washington should not force Canada to choose between the […]

Napster sold for $207M

NEW YORK — A brand that was notoriously connected to music piracy before reemerging as a subscription music service has been sold to Infinite Reality for $207 million. The tech startup announced Tuesday it had bought Napster in hopes of transforming the streaming service into a social music platform where artists can connect with fans […]

Tariff rumours lift index

TORONTO — Stock markets in Canada and the U.S. rallied to start the week after reports that a new round of U.S. tariffs scheduled to take effect on April 2 might be narrower than first expected. “Trade headlines are front and centre in today’s market,” said Candice Bangsund, vice-president and portfolio manager with Fiera Capital. […]

Candidates get down to business

OTTAWA — Federal party leaders spent their first full day on the election campaign trail talking about taxes, transfers, tariffs and the trades. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising a middle-class tax cut, following a Liberal pledge that involves a smaller reduction to the same tax rate. After Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised on Sunday […]

Bay workers face uncertainty

TORONTO — Lately, Kevin Grell feels an instant heaviness settle over him when he walks through the door at Hudson’s Bay’s east Toronto fulfilment centre. He and the other workers at the Scarborough site assemble online orders for the retailer. They’ve been anxious about the company’s future for months, but when it filed for creditor […]

The Bay can liquidate stores

TORONTO — After a week spent seeking a lifeline, an Ontario court has given Canada’s oldest company permission to start liquidating all but six of its stores on Monday. The Friday approval from Ontario Superior Court judge Peter Osborne allows the retailer to begin selling off inventory at most of its 80 Hudson’s Bay stores, […]

Poilievre makes housing pledge

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made his second election campaign-style announcement in as many days Thursday, just as news broke that Prime Minister Mark Carney is widely expected to begin the race on Sunday. Poilievre was in Jonquière, Que., to announce that a Conservative government would create what he calls “shovel-ready zones” with pre-approved […]

Markets breathe ‘sigh of relief’

TORONTO — Broad-based strength lifted Canada’s main stock index 1.5% Wednesday, while U.S. stocks also rallied after the U.S. Federal Reserve left its outlook for interest rate cuts this year intact. “For a day, markets are breathing a sigh of relief,” said John Zechner, chairman and lead equity manager at J. Zechner Associates. “Markets have […]

The Bay continues discussions

TORONTO — Hudson’s Bay is still waiting to see if it will be granted approval to liquidate stores as the retailer requests more time to work out some of its differences with its myriad of landlords, lenders and other partners. The department store giant was in court Wednesday, where its lawyers asked for up to […]