National Business

Retail sales dropped in June as Canadians continued to grapple with high interest rates. Statistics Canada said Friday that retail sales fell 0.3 per cent to $65.7 billion that month, led by a drop in sales at new car dealers.

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — The largest diamond found in more than a century has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana, and the country's president showed off the fist-sized stone to the world at a viewing ceremony Thursday.

Some commuters in the Toronto area will have to make alternate travel plans for a second day despite Ottawa's intervention in an unprecedented Canada-wide rail lockout.

MONTREAL — Canada's two biggest railways say they’re preparing to get trains back on track after Ottawa intervened to end an unprecedented labour impasse that disrupted business across the country and upended commutes for thousands.

Canada's two biggest railways, Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.

VANCOUVER — An end to a countrywide rail stoppage may be in sight, but riders of British Columbia's West Coast Express are facing at least one more day without the service.

OTTAWA — Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said Thursday the federal government has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to end the lockout at the country's two biggest rail companies, ordering a return to work and imposing binding arbitration.

VICTORIA — British Columbia's finance minister says now is not the time to balance the province's budget.

Alberta's top court has allowed a southwestern ranching community to appeal the provincial energy regulator's decision to accept applications to explore for coal in the Rocky Mountains.

OTTAWA — Health Canada-approved nicotine pouches will only be available behind pharmacy counters starting next week, as part of Health Minister Mark Holland's promised crackdown on the sale of new nicotine products to children.