National Business

TORONTO — Ontario reported 85 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 588, as non-essential businesses in the province prepared to close. The large increase included two more deaths, both in long-term care home residents.

TORONTO — Ontario cut hydro rates for residential consumers, farms and small businesses on Tuesday in response to a surge in people forced to work from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK — With millions of American homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic, there's little surprise they're curious about what's going on in the world.

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — The operator of a work lodge north of Fort McMurray, Alta., says a guest who fell ill last week does not have COVID-19. Houston-based Civeo Corp.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (12,571.08, up 1,342.59 points.) Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up one cent, or 2.33 per cent, to 44 cents on 15.

TORONTO — North American stock markets roared back to life Tuesday on hopes of a massive U.S. government stimulus package and positive data from Italy regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 1,342.

MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. is temporarily halting production at its Canadian plants, sending 12,400 employees on unpaid leave as the plane maker suspends its 2020 financial forecast due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALGARY — Oilsands giant Suncor Energy Inc.

TORONTO — When Giovanna Loureiro and Jeffrey Nunes get married this Friday, it won't be with their 150 invited guests, nor at the lush greenhouse venue they had booked in Newmarket, Ont.

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia judge has ruled the operators of a project to store natural gas in underground caverns must delay their project until further talks with a Mi'kmaq community are complete.