StatCan

Canada Sheds 84,000 Jobs in February; Unemployment Rises to 6.7%

Canada Sheds 84,000 Jobs in February; Unemployment Rises to 6.7%

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — Canada’s labour market suffered a major setback in February 2026 as the economy unexpectedly lost 84,000 jobs, driving the national unemployment rate up to 6.7%. According to the latest Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada, the decline was far more severe than economists had predicted, marking one of the worst monthly job losses since the COVID-19 pandemic. The report comes at a sensitive time for the Canadian economy, which is currently grappling with trade uncertainty, new U.S. tariff investigations, and the ripple effects of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Key Figures: A "Brutal" Month for…
Read More
Canada’s Trade Deficit Triples in January as Auto Exports Stall

Canada’s Trade Deficit Triples in January as Auto Exports Stall

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened significantly to C$3.65 billion in January 2026, far exceeding the C$900 million gap analysts had forecasted. According to data released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, March 12, the deficit nearly tripled from December’s revised C$1.3 billion, marking the largest percentage decline in exports in nearly a year. The primary driver behind the widening gap was a sharp 21.2% plunge in the export of motor vehicles and parts, which hit its lowest level since September 2021. Officials attributed the decline to "prolonged seasonal production stoppages" as Canadian plants underwent extensive retooling for…
Read More