National Business

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $1.7 billion in December, the smallest deficit since June, as energy exports rose.

CALGARY — The CEO of Interfor Corp. says profits from strong lumber markets mean the company is well-positioned to add to its stable of sawmills in Canada and the United States through acquisition. Ian Fillinger says the Burnaby, B.C.

Commercials during this year’s Super Bowl are expected to take on a nostalgic tone as advertisers walk a fine line between entertaining viewers and being sensitive to the widespread devastation of COVID-19, marketing experts say.

CALGARY — TransAlta Corp. says the CEO who supervised its transition away from a provincially focused provider of coal-fired power to an international utility with natural gas and renewable power generation plans to retire at the end of March.

FREDERICTON — The head of a group representing New Brunswick farmers wants temporary foreign workers included high on the COVID-19 vaccination list as a way to protect the province's food supply.

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 9.4 per cent in January. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate was 9.4 per cent in January. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): _ Newfoundland and Labrador 12.8 per cent (12.6) _ Prince Edward Island 7.

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada's January employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 9.4 per cent (8.8) Employment rate: 58.6 per cent (59.3) Participation rate: 64.7 per cent (65.

LONGUEUIL, Que. — Heroux-Devtek Inc. beat expectations even as its profit and revenue in its most recent quarter fell compared with a year earlier. The maker of aircraft landing gear says it earned $8.

CONCORD, N.H. — Politically active pets are out of luck in New Hampshire, where some lawmakers say they have been told to keep their cats and dogs out of the room when they log on for remote hearings. Rep.