National Business

VICTORIA — The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the British Columbia government to delay implementation of several taxes, including increasing the carbon tax.

The board of directors for Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. say their independent members have rejected a hostile bid from a New York firm that offered $10.3 billion to buy the telecommunications companies.

United Airlines said Wednesday it plans to furlough 16,370 employees in October, a smaller number than the airline predicted in July because thousands of workers agreed to leave with the travel industry facing a slow recovery from the pandemic.

WASHINGTON — The latest Federal Reserve survey of U.S. economic activity found generally modest gains in August but also pessimism about the future given the threats posed by the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON — The federal budget deficit is projected to hit a record $3.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (16,697.97, up 52.98 points.) Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Down 37 cents, or 1.75 per cent, to $20.77 on 17.1 million shares.

Alimentation Couche-Tard continues to be on the hunt for acquisitions even as it claims convenience store rival 7-Eleven's blockbuster US$21-billion acquisition of the Speedway network in the U.S. doesn't make sense.

TORONTO — North American stock markets posted a second day of gains to start September as optimism about COVID-19 trumped disappointing U.S. private payroll numbers.

CALGARY — The partial shutdown of a diluent supply pipeline following a spill near Fort McMurray has halted production at the Kearl oilsands mining operation in northern Alberta, operator Imperial Oil Ltd. said Wednesday.

MONTREAL — Dollarama Inc.