Business

Dominic LeBlanc will lead a six-day trade mission to Mexico with about 250 Canadian business and government representatives, focused on five priority sectors as Ottawa seeks to broaden trade ties while the USMCA/CUSMA agreement is up for review this year.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his caucus is federalist and opposes Alberta separatism, while the group Stay Free Alberta is seeking nearly 178,000 signatures by May to trigger a referendum.

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey presented a budget projecting a record $13.3 billion deficit next fiscal year and expanding the PST to include some professional services.

Pebble Beach Company and Hanse Golf Course Design will undertake a comprehensive redesign of The Links at Spanish Bay beginning after March 17, 2026, and the course is scheduled to reopen for public play on April 17, 2027.

A judge granted a hearing to review the investigation that led to charges against former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore and said Moore's due process may have been violated after a detective did not disclose an employer-employee relationship; the hearing is set for March 2.

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey will present a budget Tuesday aimed at slowing deficit growth, with the current fiscal year forecast at an $11.2-billion shortfall.

China's Foreign Ministry announced Canadians can visit mainland China without a visa for stays up to 30 days through at least the end of the year; the announcement follows a recent visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Ohana Development has launched the USD 4.1 billion Manchester City Yas Residences project in Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre announced digitisation of off‑plan registrations and bookings through its Madhmoun platform with mandatory escrow oversight.

U.S. supply concerns and a recent international ministerial on critical minerals coincided with reports of renewed high-grade gold and polymetallic exploration activity in British Columbia's Golden Triangle.

Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to 2.3% in January from 2.4% in December, with lower gasoline prices the largest contributor to the deceleration; core measures excluding food and energy also moderated.

Montreal recorded a large rise in pothole complaints this winter, and local researchers say technical fixes exist; officials point to limited budgets and weather conditions as reasons permanent repairs are delayed.

The article links modern snowboarding to entrepreneur Jake Burton, noting an early lawn-mowing business that connected him with Zoi Sadowski-Synnott's family and helped lead to the Burton snowboard company's lasting influence at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Statistics Canada reports the consumer price index was 2.3% year-over-year in January, down from 2.4% in December; food bought in stores rose 4.8% compared with a year earlier.

Sienna Senior Living says it is continuing platform growth in Ontario and British Columbia and offers a full range of seniors' living options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care and long-term care.

The CRA enters the 2026 filing season after two years of disrupted tax rules and last-minute policy reversals; Ottawa rolled out a 100-day plan and staffing and digital changes to reduce call-centre delays and improve online services.

Ukraine and Russia exchanged military strikes as diplomatic talks in Geneva were set to begin, following two earlier negotiation rounds held in the United Arab Emirates involving military officials and U.S. envoys.

Large Canadian banks and tech firms are making AI literacy an expected skill for new recruits, and some employers report high internal use of generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot.

After years of growth, electric vehicle market share among franchised dealers in Canada fell in 2025. The federal government has announced a new auto strategy with rebates, tougher emissions rules and funding for charging, but the plan is light on details.

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a final determination in a Chinese graphite anti-dumping investigation, and the related company news release includes forward-looking statements and a caution that actual results may differ.

South West Terminal Limited acquired Solo Italia Fine Pasta in December 2025, and the shop's founders will continue to help run the Ogema, Saskatchewan operation as the company adds storage and plans to expand production.

A Desjardins analysis says most provinces are on firmer footing entering the 2026 budget season after Statistics Canada revised past GDP and some U.S. tariffs were limited under CUSMA; provincial fiscal updates begin with British Columbia and Alberta.

Canadian politicians and advocates are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to respond or provide aid after U.S. actions reduced fuel reaching Cuba; the government says it is concerned but has not committed to sending humanitarian fuel.

Slowpoke has become the symbol of lacquerware for Kagawa prefecture after Takamatsu Technical High School students made lacquer-coated Slowpoke pieces that were shown at a Tokyo exhibition; The Pokémon Company International named Slowpoke Kagawa's ambassador Pokémon in 2018.

Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson is in Warsaw to advocate for Canadian nuclear technology, including Candu, as Poland advances plans for a second nuclear power plant; the visit follows a 2025 Nuclear Co-operation Agreement and precedes his attendance at the 2026 IEA ministerial in Paris.

An advocate asked the federal government to amend the Employment Equity Act for Black employees and to stop contesting a class-action suit that has cost more than $15 million; the government says it is reviewing consultation feedback to inform possible changes.

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon visited Germany and will travel to Saudi Arabia and India to broaden trade alliances and seek investment in Canadian infrastructure and technology.

Megan Oldham won the women's big air gold with a combined 180.75 points, narrowly defeating Eileen Gu (179). She is the third Canadian at the Milano-Cortina Olympics to earn multiple medals.

The second edition of The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops was presented at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, with Onyx Coffee Lab (USA) ranked first and the United States represented by nine shops on the list.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported a 15% decline in the seasonally adjusted annual pace of housing starts in January and a 3.5% drop in the six‑month moving average.

THEON reported preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2025, citing record revenue and profit, order intake of €1.3 billion and an Adj. EBIT margin above 26%. The company reiterated medium-term organic revenue growth guidance of at least 15% per year and provided FY 2026 guidance including a c.30% revenue increase.