National Business

MONTREAL — WestJet Airlines Ltd. says roughly half of its 14,000 employees will leave the company — some temporarily — due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.