Economy, Law & Politics

VICTORIA — B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has assigned jobs to 41 of his 44-member caucus, including giving a critic's position to MLA Brent Chapman, who faced calls to step down during the campaign over controversial social media remarks.

The government on Thursday announced a sweeping promise to make groceries, children's clothing, Christmas trees, restaurant meals and more free from GST/HST between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15.

OTTAWA — The Liberal government plans to temporarily lift the federal sales tax off a slew of items just in time for Christmas and send cheques to millions of Canadians this spring, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $98,000 for the first time Thursday, extending a streak of record after record highs since the U.S. presidential election. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks.

The last paycheque from a decades-long career arrives next Friday and the nest egg you built during those working years will now turn into a main source of income. It can be a jarring switch from saving for retirement to spending in retirement.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the energy and technology sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 231.92 points at 25,268.38.

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is welcoming president-elect Donald Trump's pick for the next U.S. ambassador in Ottawa.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 added 0.4% in early trading Thursday.

VANCOUVER — Canada's border agency says it has detained about 50 shipments of cargo over suspicions they were products of forced labour under rules introduced in 2020 — but only one was eventually determined to be in breach of the ban.