National Business

TORONTO — North American stock markets rose midweek with U.S. indexes setting record highs, while the loonie reached its highest value in nearly three years .

VAUGHAN, Ont. — CannTrust Holdings Inc. says it will create a $50-million trust to settle claims from class action lawsuits filed after the company was found growing cannabis in unlicensed rooms two years ago. The Vaughan, Ont.

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Green Leader David Coon is calling on Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland to resign from cabinet because of a letter he wrote to the Energy and Utilities Board.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will operate the first commercial flight of the Boeing 737 Max in Canada since the aircraft was cleared to fly again in Canadian airspace.

EDMONTON — Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it has laid off some workers after signing an agreement with an external sales broker.

CALGARY — Norwegian oil giant Equinor ASA says it has completed its exit from the Canadian oilsands by selling the 18.8 per cent stake in producer Athabasca Oil Corp. it acquired three years ago.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Morgan Stanley saw its fourth-quarter profits surge 48% from a year earlier, as the Wall Street bank benefited from the market’s upward swing and investors jubilation for tech stocks and IPOs late last year.

TORONTO — Ontario's labour minister says 25 tickets were issued during a weekend inspection blitz of big-box stores that found the majority were following public health rules.

OTTAWA — The annual rate of inflation slowed in December as the pace of rising food prices decreased and the cost of air travel compared with a year earlier fell, Statistics Canada said. The agency said Wednesday the consumer price index was up 0.

OTTAWA — Canada's national annual inflation rate was 0.7 per cent in December, Statistics Canada says.