National Business

TORONTO — Strength in financial and technology stocks helped Canada's main stock index gain more than 100 points Tuesday, while the loonie declined after the latest comments by U.S.

MONTREAL — Even as rival airlines limit their expansion plans, WestJet has begun to gear up for a major growth spurt this year, with a focus on in-country travel brought on by a low loonie and pinched pocketbooks.

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is running an advertising campaign to tout a freeze on electricity rates even though the freeze has yet to be approved and could be rejected.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose after more companies said they made bigger profits at the end of last year than analysts expected and as Treasury yields eased. The S&P 500 climbed 0.

HALIFAX — A boil water advisory affecting more than 200,000 people has been issued for parts of the Halifax region — for the second time in less than seven months — after a power interruption at a major water treatment facility.

VANCOUVER — The president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs is reversing his previous opposition to the scrapped Northern Gateway pipeline project that would have created another route for Alberta's oil to get to the Pacific Ocean.

U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening tariffs starting Feb. 1 on Canada and Mexico because he says both countries are allowing a "vast number" of people and fentanyl to come into the United States.

OTTAWA — A prominent trans activist wants Canada to update its travel safety guidelines for the United States following President Donald Trump's executive order limiting gender expression to male or female.

TORONTO — A CIBC report says sweeping tariffs imposed by the U.S. could cost the Canadian economy as much as 3.25 per cent, even factoring in possible exemptions for the oil and gas sector.

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-wing extremists are celebrating Elon Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a speech Monday, although his intention wasn't totally clear and some hate watchdogs are saying not to read too much into it.