National Business

OTTAWA — Canada's unemployment rate continued to trend higher in August — reaching 6.6 per cent — as the job market slowdown hits workers and job seekers unevenly.

MONTREAL — The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers says Montreal-area home sales rose 9.3 per cent in August compared with the same month last year, with levels slightly higher than the historical average for this time of year.

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent in August. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities.

OTTAWA — Canada's national unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent in August. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets): _ Newfoundland and Labrador 10.4 per cent (9.6) _ Prince Edward Island 8.

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada's August employment figures (numbers from the previous month in brackets): Unemployment rate: 6.6 per cent (6.4) Employment rate: 60.8 per cent (60.9) Participation rate: 65.1 per cent (65.

MONTREAL — The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven has rejected a takeover offer from Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. said the proposal by the Canadian convenience store operator "grossly undervalues" the company.

Four months out from an unprecedented split between the regulators for accountants in Ontario and Quebec and their national counterpart, CPA Canada is pitching a new, separate membership to accountants in the departing provinces. On Sept.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s incoming CEO says the retailer is convinced it can close on a blockbuster bid to take over 7-Eleven-owner Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd, even as the target company says the offer is too low to seriously consider.

VICTORIA — Public transit in British Columbia should be free for everybody, says Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau. The Greens are making free public transit one of the party's promises ahead of B.C.'s Oct. 19 election, she said Thursday.

TORONTO — The former chief financial officer of RBC is again pushing back against claims by the bank that it was justified in firing her for allegedly breaching its code of conduct.