A new report commissioned by the Alberta government estimates that the cost of separating Alberta from Canada could reach $170 billion during the first five years. The report, prepared by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, estimates the transition could cost at least $50 billion, with the upper-end estimate reaching $170 billion. The costs would include building new infrastructure, hiring and transitioning staff, and covering Alberta’s share of the federal debt. The report examines two possible scenarios for separation. One assumes a relatively smooth and cooperative tra

New U.S. tariffs of 50 per cent on 110 Canadian products took effect Tuesday, expanding the range of goods affected by the escalating trade dispute between Ottawa and Washington. The new duties apply to products including certain cheeses, all-terrain vehicles, motorboats, furniture, aluminum products, paper and wood products, iron and steel structures, mattresses and lamps. The changes were made under U.S. tariff measures announced by the Trump administration. At the same time, the United States removed 10 Canadian product categories from the 50 per cent tariff list. Those include salt, Portla

Canada’s annual inflation rate remained steady at 3 per cent in August, according to Statistics Canada. However, inflation could rise in September as Brent crude oil prices have surpassed US$100 a barrel, while the full impact of the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Canada’s retaliatory measures could also be reflected in upcoming inflation data. According to the report released Monday, gasoline prices rose at a slower pace last month but remained elevated amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. On a positive note, grocery prices increased at a slower rate than ove

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, are stepping into the entertainment industry after leaving politics. The duo announced the launch of their new media and production company, Hope & Hard Work, on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. The company’s name is inspired by the slogan associated with Trudeau’s successful 2015 election campaign, which helped the Liberal Party move from third-party status to government, where it remained in power for nearly a decade. Several projects are already in development unde

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is currently in New York, where he will attend memorial events on Friday marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Poilievre left for New York on Wednesday night. According to the Conservative Party, he is also scheduled to meet with investors and business representatives to discuss trade-related issues. In a statement, Poilievre said Canada’s greatest strength in the ongoing trade war is the trust of ordinary Americans, which he believes can help reduce the threat to jobs on both sides of the border. A senior Conservative source

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is preparing to take several steps to attract more foreign investment and support economic growth, with some of the key measures expected to be unveiled in the upcoming fall federal budget. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has assigned several ministers to actively engage with businesses and help them access available government support. As part of the initiative, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will travel across Canada to meet with business leaders and guide them through the process of applying for gover

The Canada-U.S. trade war could drag on, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warning that Washington could consider imposing additional retaliatory tariffs on Canadian goods as early as today. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a video message to Canadians, said the country would have to pay a significant price for reducing its trade dependence on the United States. However, he stressed that failing to take action could have even more damaging consequences. Carney said Canada has all the necessary tools to reduce its dependence on the U.S. and build a stronger, more prosperous

Canada’s economy lost 42,000 jobs in August, dealing a setback to the recent momentum in the country’s labour market. However, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4 per cent. The latest figures from Statistics Canada came in below economists’ expectations, with analysts forecasting a net gain of around 15,000 jobs. The public sector recorded the largest decline in employment, shedding 20,000 jobs and marking its third consecutive month of losses. Meanwhile, Canada’s manufacturing sector showed unexpected resilience despite the impact of U.S. tariffs, adding 22,000 jobs during

The Canadian government has deployed a team of 10 officials to Kathmandu to provide assistance to Canadians affected by the devastating floods in Nepal. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed the deployment in a statement shared on social media. According to Minister Anand, the team includes a senior RCMP officer and is working closely with local police, hospitals, trekking companies and international partners to locate missing Canadians and support affected families. The federal government has also announced $5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for Nepal as the country cont