Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions climbed in 2022, after pandemic slowdown

Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022, as the economy rebounded from the pandemic slowdown, according to figures obtained by Radio-Canada ahead of today’s government announcement. The new National Inventory Report data shows emissions reached 708 megatonnes in that year, compared with 698 megatonnes in 2021. But the office of Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault said … Read more

Canadian economy grew 0.2% in February

The Canadian economy grew a modest 0.2 per cent in February, with early estimates for March indicating little change to the GDP, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday. The February figures were a tick lower than analysts expected. The economy had a strong January, growing 0.5 per cent (downwardly revised from 0.6 per cent). That was largely thanks to a rebound in … Read more

London Drugs stores remain closed after ‘cybersecurity incident’

All London Drugs stores remained closed across Western Canada on Tuesday morning, two days after the B.C.-based company announced it was dealing with a “cybersecurity incident.” A statement issued by the company at 7:20 a.m. PT Tuesday said its stores “will remain temporarily closed … until further notice while continuing to provide customers with urgent pharmacy care.” … Read more

Trans Mountain pipeline ushers in new economic era for Fort McMurray

As the urban centre at the heart of Canada’s oilsands industry, Fort McMurray has seen more than its share of ups and downs. A decade and a half ago, the northern Alberta community was this country’s most famous boom town. High oil prices helped to drive unprecedented demand for the thick, viscous bitumen that lies … Read more

Open banking could spur competition, but fintechs say Canada’s moving too slowly

Federal efforts to bring “open banking” to Canada are being welcomed by players in the industry — but there’s also criticism that, after years of waiting, any changes may not come fast enough to encourage innovation or allow smaller financial players compete with larger institutions. Open banking lets consumers or business customers share personal and financial information between approved banks and other … Read more

Feds give financial boost to biofuel sector amid growing U.S. competition

Canada’s biofuel industry is welcoming a proposed multi-billion dollar package of financial support from the federal government, although concerns remain about whether it will be enough to compete with lucrative subsidies south of the border and reverse the growing dependence on U.S. imports to meet clean fuel regulations. The federal government is committing $1.27 billion toward … Read more

Nearly 23% of the Canadian population reported food insecurity in 2022

Nearly nine million Canadians lived in food insecure households in 2022, with 22.9 per cent of the population reporting some form of food insecurity, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday. The data agency wrote in its annual Canadian Income Survey that 8.7 million people lived in households that reported some kind of food insecurity. … Read more

Honda to invest $15B to build 4 new EV plants in Ontario

Japanese automaker Honda will make a $15-billion electric vehicle investment in Ontario to build four new manufacturing plants in the province, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday. According to a government statement released to media in advance of the announcement, the deal will result in “Canada’s first comprehensive electric vehicle … Read more

Bombardier gets federal exemption from sanctions on Russian titanium

Bombardier is now the second large Canadian corporation known to have been granted an exemption from federal government sanctions on Russian titanium. The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer, along with its European partner Airbus, can continue to use parts containing titanium produced by Russia’s VSMPO-AVISMA, based in Verkhnyaya Salda. During a conference call Thursday with reporters following the release of Bombardier’s quarterly results, CEO … Read more

For its next trick, Ottawa must unload the $34B Trans Mountain pipeline. It won’t be easy

In her budget speech to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland took a moment to celebrate the finishing touch on expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline. The controversial project has been plagued by delays and massive cost overruns, but Freeland instead focused on its completion, highlighting the: “talented tradespeople and the brilliant … Read more