National Business

OTTAWA — President-elect Donald Trump was joking when he suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida on Friday, said a Liberal minister who attended the meeting.

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is not escalating a war of words with Mexico, after the Mexican president criticized Canada's culture and its framing of border issues. The rift between trading partners started with U.S.

The strike by more than 55,000 Canada Post workers entered its 19th day as the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend came to a close.

TORONTO — Strength in base metal stocks helped lift Canada's main stock index in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 22.26 points at 25,612.59.

TORONTO — Scotiabank says it expects to see continued loan pressure and political uncertainty in the months ahead as it reported profits that were up from a year ago but below analyst expectations.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with opposition leaders in his office on Parliament Hill on Tuesday morning to brief them on the government's plan for the Canada-U.S. border. Trudeau's office said he initiated the meeting after U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of job postings in the United States rebounded in October from a 3 1/2 year low in September, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled. Openings rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.

TORONTO — A European company developing a spa and waterpark at Ontario Place got special access to provincial executives during a submission process that was not fair or transparent, Ontario's auditor general said Tuesday in her annual report.

TORONTO — Ontario's auditor general says the province spent three times the amount of money on government advertising in the last fiscal year as it did the year before – the highest amount ever.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of job postings in the United States rebounded in October from a 3 1/2 year low in September, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled. Openings rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.