National Business

Walmart says it will begin closing its Tire, Lube and Express businesses in stores across Canada.

WASHINGTON — Nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19, the government reported Monday, as federal officials demanded states carry out more inspections and vowed higher fines for facilities with poor infection control.

MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. has completed the sale of its regional jet business to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. for US$550 million, cementing the plane maker's departure from commercial aviation following a three-decade run.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (15,236.21, up 43.38 points.) Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ). Energy. Up 56 cents, or 2.23 per cent, to $25.71 on 21.

TORONTO — North American stock markets followed two strong months of recovery by kicking off June slightly higher amid cautious optimism about economic reopenings. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 43.38 points at 15,236.

TORONTO — Ontario is temporarily amending its labour laws to help businesses avoid permanently laying off workers and paying out severance, which could send some into bankruptcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — As provinces begin to reopen their economies, there's a movement afoot to use mobile phones to alert health authorities to new cases that could lead to future outbreaks.

LONGUEUIL, Que. — Quebec Maple Syrup Producers say they set a new record for maple syrup production this year. The group says this year's harvest is estimated at more than 175 million pounds of maple syrup for all of Quebec, an average yield of 3.

TORONTO — Bell Canada will sell most of its data centres for $1.04 billion to California-based Equinix Inc., which provides locations to house equipment for cloud computing and internet services. Montreal-based Bell, the main subsidiary of BCE Inc.

Reitmans (Canada) Ltd. will close two of its retail chains and lay off roughly 1,400 workers as the company continues a restructuring amid the pandemic. Montreal-based Reitmans said Monday that it will shutter its 77 Addition Elle stores on Aug.