National Business

TORONTO — Two of the Canadian literary industry's biggest brands are calling on the Ontario government to designate bookstores as essential services — even as COVID-19 cases continue to surge. Retailer Indigo Books & Music Inc.

TORONTO — More than 130 Naturalizer stores in the United States and Canada will be closed by early 2021 as Caleres Inc. adopts a digital sales strategy for the shoe chain.

CALGARY — A survey by energy labour market organization PetroLMI shows that more than two-thirds of the employers in Canada's oil and gas sector imposed labour cost reduction measures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, including 37 per c

Air filters have become big business in the age of COVID-19, for the HVAC companies that can get their hands on them.

OTTAWA — The Canada Post Group of Companies is reporting a third-quarter pre-tax loss of $216 million, as increased revenue from parcel shipping failed to compensate for higher pandemic-related costs and a slowdown in its Canada Post segment.

HALIFAX — The menu at the Stubborn Goat Gastropub in downtown Halifax will always have a classic burger and gourmet mac n' cheese. But the slightly more eccentric dishes, peppered with unique ingredients, might be harder to come by these days.

Greece has downgraded its forecasts for the economy this year to include the impact of a second lockdown, and says the national debt is now expected to exceed 200% of annual output.

TORONTO — Cineplex Inc. has struck an agreement with Hollywood film studio Universal to shorten the exclusive theatrical release window for its movies to as little as 17 days.

OTTAWA — Retail sales climbed more than expected in September to mark the fifth consecutive monthly increase since the record drop in April due to the pandemic, but economists warned that rising COVID-19 cases and looming restrictions could mean weak

MONTREAL — Boralex Inc. says it has signed a deal to buy the 49 per cent stake in three Quebec wind farms it does not already own from the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. The company will pay $121.