A judge on Friday ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end the 5-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production, the Associated Press reported.

The Canadian Debtors Association is calling on all parties in the credit, debt and insolvency industry to work together and modernize Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) to help Canadians in financial difficulty, according to a press release. "A core principle of Canada's insolvency legislation and policy is to provide a "fresh start" for people who are overwhelmed by debt," says Canadian Debtors Association President and CEO Henrietta Ross. "This principle is widely accepted by legislators, stakeholder groups, academics and insolvency experts.

Canada's economy does not need more stimulus, but rather more investment from both government and businesses to build up supply capacity to meet strong consumer demand, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Macklem, when asked in an audience Q&A session if government should be spending billions to further stimulate the economy, said Canada is already in the midst of a consumer-led recovery, and more capacity investment is needed to sustain that. "To sustain a strong consumer-led recovery, you need investment," he said.

Canada posted a surprise trade deficit in December, as imports hit a new record high and exports fell from November, official data showed on Tuesday, but economists expect an export rebound in January on surging energy prices, Reuters reported. Canada's trade deficit was C$137 million ($108 million) in December, well below analyst forecasts of a surplus of C$2.50 billion. November's surplus was also revised down to C$2.47 billion from C$3.13 billion, still good for a 13-year record.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Wednesday there was uncertainty about how quickly inflation would come back down due to the unique nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has helped drive up prices, Reuters reported. Macklem, speaking to the Senate banking committee, reiterated that interest rates would have to start going up this year to tackle inflation, which is currently 4.8%, more than double the central bank's 2% target. "There is some uncertainty about how quickly inflation will come down because we've never experienced a pandemic like this before," he said.

A company that operates a P.E.I. fish hatchery and grow-out facility has filed for bankruptcy, owing millions of dollars to multiple levels of government. According to bankruptcy trustee MNP Ltd., Halibut PEI voluntarily filed for bankruptcy on Jan. 14, CBC.ca reported. The company owes $9.5 million to its creditors, including the P.E.I. government, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.

The Bank of Canada's decision to delay a rate hike for five more weeks will add fuel to Canada's scorching housing market as buyers scramble to clinch deals before borrowing costs rise, realtors said, Reuters reported. The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at a record low 0.25% on Wednesday, but warned multiple increases would be coming soon. The U.S. Federal Reserve separately also said it would start hiking soon. Canada's housing market has been on tear throughout much of the pandemic, with prices up 39% nationwide from February 2020 to December 2021.

The Bank of Canada held interest rates unchanged but signaled it could tighten monetary policy in coming weeks to contain the highest inflation in three decades, Bloomberg News reported. Policy makers led by Governor Tiff Macklem left the central bank’s main policy rate at 0.25%, where it’s been since March 2020, amid uncertainty stemming from the resurgent coronavirus.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused conservative politicians of stoking fear that COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers are exacerbating supply chain disruptions and fueling inflation, Reuters reported. The United States imposed a mandate, meant to aid the fight against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus, on Jan. 22, while Canada's started on Jan. 15. The trucking industry has warned the measure will take thousands of drivers off the roads during what is already a dire labor shortage in the industry.

Brazilian power company Companhia Energetica de Sao Paulo (CESP) on Monday said its board of directors has approved terms of a deal with conglomerate Votorantim SA and Canada Pension Plan Investments Board (CPPIB) to merge the trio's energy assets in Brazil, Reuters reported. CESP is expected to become a full subsidiary of Votorantim and CPPI's joint venture VTRM Energia once the deal is closed. The terms of the transaction, which valued CESP at about 9.1 billion reais ($1.67 billion), were disclosed this month. The company has also scheduled a shareholder meeting for Feb.