Bank of Canada holds rates, govt steps offset weakness elsewhere

By Andrea Hopkins and Leah Schnurr OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada kept interest rates steady on Wednesday, saying weaker global growth, a less favorable U.S. outlook and shrinking business investment would have driven the economic outlook lower if not for the boost from the government's fiscal stimulus. Citing the spending announced in the new Liberal government's March budget as one of the only positive factors driving economic growth in Canada amid a prolonged slump in the energy sector