Value of the permits issued last year has been pegged at $3.2-billion.
The Canadian dollar slipped below 70 cents U.S. on Wednesday for the second day in a row as the currency traded near lows set nearly 13 years ago.
A judge sentenced Benderman to four years in prison and ordered he be expelled from the country after serving his sentence, the official said.
The Trudeau government is "actively considering" speeding up promised investments in infrastructure in a bid to stimulate Canada's rapidly deteriorating economy.
David Eggen calls it an important step as school boards draft policies and regulations tailored to their own regions.
Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning in most regions of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia by early morning, while Newfoundland and Labrador was expecting snow later in the day.