National Business

VICTORIA — B.C. Premier David Eby said a trade mission to Asia next month will help the province become the "engine of a new Canada," but an economist says B.C. also needs to take steps at home to become more competitive.

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government added uranium to its list of priority critical minerals on Wednesday and issued a request for exploration proposals at three sites the province says have known deposits of the heavy metal.

TORONTO — The number of tariff-hit products at the grocery store could soon spike as pre-tariff inventory runs out, said Loblaw Cos. Ltd. chief executive Per Bank, which means prices for some items will go up too.

CALGARY — The chief executive of Atco Ltd. says discussions around Alberta secession are already hurting the investment climate.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index made modest gains Wednesday while U.S. markets were mixed as investors weighed what might come next in trade disputes.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew signed an agreement Wednesday to boost the movement of goods and labour between the two provinces, including direct-to-consumer alcohol sales in place by the end of June.

Stocks drifted to a mixed close on Wall Street, holding on to most of the gains they made earlier in the week after the U.S. and China declared a temporary cease-fire in their trade war. The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% Wednesday.

TORONTO — Ontario is set to table its budget Thursday and Premier Doug Ford is signalling it will include a lot of infrastructure spending and measures to stimulate the economy, saying U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs will be a major factor.

CALGARY — Police say a Calgary transit bus driver was attacked for apparently refusing to drive off his route. Two suspects have been arrested.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is facing a $12 billion deficit that Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to help close by freezing enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status.