National Business

In an era of increased strike activity and union power, labour experts say it’s not surprising to see more calls for government intervention in certain sectors like transportation.

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's finance minister says the province recorded a surplus of $500.8 million for the fiscal year that ended in March. Ernie Steeves says the amount — more than 10 times higher than the province's original $40.

The Canadian Real Estate Association says the number of homes sold in August fell compared with a year ago as the market remained largely "stuck in a holding pattern" despite borrowing costs beginning to come down.

OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home.

MONTREAL — AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. says it has signed a deal with U.K. rail infrastructure owner Network Rail to help upgrade and digitize its signalling over the next 10 years.

WINNIPEG — Some 250 coloured tacks pepper a large-scale world map among bookshelves at Whodunit Mystery Bookstore. Estonia, Finland, Japan and even Fenwick, Ont.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 1.4 per cent to $71 billion in July, helped by higher sales in the petroleum and coal and chemical product subsectors. The increase followed a 1.7 per cent decrease in June.

VANCOUVER — The president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities says communities have billions of dollars worth of infrastructure that will need replacing in the next decade and the province needs to step in with new funding to help.

TORONTO — "The Life of Chuck," an offbeat drama from writer-director Mike Flanagan, is the People's Choice Award winner at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's premier is repeating his government’s calls for Ottawa to foot the full bill to protect a vital strip of land that connects the province to the rest of the country ahead of a new parliamentary session.