Canadian economy lost 63,000 jobs in Dec., first decline since April

Canada’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.7 per cent in October, reaching its highest level in six months, according to the latest data released by Statistics Canada on Friday. Economists had expected the economy to add 13,600 jobs overall. However, instead of gaining jobs, Canada recorded a net loss of 4,700 positions last month. The decline was primarily driven by the private sector, which shed 53,000 jobs, marking its first major drop since February. Meanwhile, public-sector employment increased by 50,000 positions, while the construction industry added 16,000 jobs, helping offset some of t

Elections Alberta has estimated the total cost of last month's referendum at nearly $84 million. The agency has requested more than $59 million in additional funding from the provincial government to cover expenses already incurred and upcoming work. Of the requested amount, approximately $49 million is intended to cover costs related to the October referendum, which have already been incurred. The vote set new records for advance voting, special ballots and voter turnout. Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure told a committee that manually counting 10 ballot papers for each voter placed sign

The federal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced an increase in the deposit insurance limit, raising the amount of money protected in Canadians’ bank accounts from $100,000 to $250,000. Under a new proposal introduced as part of Budget 2026, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) coverage limit will increase by $150,000. This marks the first increase in the deposit insurance limit in nearly 20 years. CDIC insurance guarantees that eligible deposits held at member financial institutions are protected up to a specified limit in the event of a bank failure. The co

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Mark Carney over the federal government's new immigration plan, accusing the Liberals of manipulating figures to make it appear that immigration is under control. Poilievre alleged that the government is misleading Canadians, arguing that the new immigration targets remain among the highest in Canadian history. He said Carney is describing immigration levels as stable, but in reality, the government's mass immigration plan is protecting the profits of large corporations at the expense of Canadian families, inclu

The federal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has announced major changes to Canada's foreign homebuyer ban in Budget 2026. Under the new policy, foreign nationals will be allowed to purchase newly built homes, while the existing ban on buying previously constructed and resale residential properties will be extended until January 1, 2029. According to the government, the move aims to encourage foreign investment in new housing construction to increase Canada's housing supply, while protecting the existing housing market for local buyers. The Canadian Home Builders' Association has