National Business

OTTAWA — As Bell Media blamed regulators and policymakers for its decision to announce a fresh round of layoffs Thursday, federal and provincial politicians accused the company of unnecessarily killing off local journalism.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index posted a small loss Thursday as weakness in telecom and utilities stocks weighed on the market, while U.S. markets made gains. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 49.54 points at 20,919.64.

MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. shares slid almost 15 per cent on Thursday after the business jet maker forecast slower-than-expected growth, despite a jump in plane deliveries and profit last year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks held near record levels on Wall Street as evidence kept piling up to show the job market remains remarkably solid. The S&P 500 edged up 0.

OTTAWA — The group that represents residential builders in Canada wants Ottawa to offer a 30-year amortization period for insured mortgages on new homes.

TORONTO — Sun Life Financial Inc.'s chief executive says the potential upside of operating the new Canadian dental care plan outweighs the risks as the insurer pushes further into the health benefits space.

WASHINGTON — Premier Danielle Smith says no matter the outcome of the United States election, there will be challenges for Canada and Alberta.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An attorney for the energy company Enbridge tried to persuade a federal appellate court Thursday to vacate an order that would shut down part of a pipeline running through a Wisconsin tribal reservation.

CALGARY — The company building the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has been cited for environmental non-compliance related to its management of recent flooding in B.C.

TORONTO — The parent company of Bell Canada announced it is slashing nine per cent of its workforce and could further scale back network spending as it remains at loggerheads with the CRTC over what it calls "predetermined" regulatory direction.