National Business

MONTREAL — A major U.S. shipper is turning away from the Halifax port in favour of U.S. harbours due to ongoing blockades that have shut down Canadian National Railway Co.'s eastern network.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (17,944.06, up 18.70 points.) Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Financials. Up 26 cents, or 0.99 per cent, to $26.59 on 10.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Liberal government is proposing changes to the Labour Standards Code it expects will make it harder for employers to pay women less than men for doing the same work.

TORONTO — Independent cinemas across Canada say they are being kept from screening top films like "Parasite" and "Hustlers" as they're released — and they claim theatre giant Cineplex Inc. is to blame.

CALGARY — Opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline's planned route have brought rail traffic to a standstill with blockades in support of five Wet'suwet'en hereditary clan chiefs in B.C. who say it cannot proceed without their consent.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Domino's Pizza said strong carryout sales helped it achieve better-than-expected results in the fourth quarter despite increasing competition from food delivery companies like DoorDash.

TORONTO — Canada may still be in the depths of winter, but for high school, college and university students across the country, now is the time to prepare for summer jobs and post-graduation employment.