National News

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government tabled a $14.3-billion budget Tuesday that has been driven deep into deficit by a promised increase in health-care funding and a contingency fund to deal with U.S. tariff threats.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is keeping the possibility of reintroducing a surcharge on electricity exported to the United States in his back pocket, but says for now he doesn't want to "antagonize" American officials.

MONTREAL — Montreal has cracked down on short-term rentals in a bid to ease housing pressure in the city and fight what it calls the “scourge” of illegal listings on Airbnb.

OTTAWA — A surprise jump in inflation and a flood of "noise" in the economy may push the Bank of Canada to pause its interest rate cuts next month, some economists argue.

TORONTO — Finalists for the National Newspaper Awards include four nominations for the national news agency The Canadian Press/La Presse Canadienne. Here's look at the categories and contenders:

IQALUIT — Prime Minister Mark Carney says he hopes recovering the remains of two First Nations women murdered by a serial killer from a Manitoba landfill brings closure to their families.

TORONTO — The Canadian Press/La Presse Canadienne is nominated for four National Newspaper Awards, including one for a photo of people giving former prime minister Justin Trudeau the finger while posing for a selfie.

OKA, Que. — Quebec provincial police say four people are expected to appear in court this afternoon following a police operation linked to organized crime in a Mohawk settlement outside Montreal.

OTTAWA — Canada's annual inflation rate was 2.6 per cent in February, Statistics Canada says.

OTTAWA — Canada's annual inflation rate was 2.6 per cent in February, Statistics Canada says. Here's what happened in the provinces (previous month in brackets):