Canada briefing for this week — Sept 28 to Oct 3, 2026:

📰 Canada Weekly

Trade and manufacturing feel the squeeze

Canadian manufacturing softened again in September. The S&P Global Canada PMI eased to 51.5, the lowest since March and only modest growth, after dipping to 53 in August. Output still rose but new orders declined marginally for the first time since March as clients hesitated on tariffs. That backdrop follows a volatile trade sequence. The Trump administration imposed new 50% tariffs in August on about 5% of Canadian exports and then in September signed orders to ban imports of many dairy products, alcoholic beverages and motorcycles from Canada in response to Canadian retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion in U.S. goods. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne met virtually with provincial and territorial finance ministers on October 2 to discuss health funding, Canada’s response to ongoing U.S. trade measures, internal trade barriers and growth.

Nation-building push moves to legislation

September was described as the month Canada’s nation-building machinery went into full production. Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, was tabled September 21 as the most comprehensive reform of project approvals in a generation, alongside the first-ever Canada Investment Summit in Toronto that produced nearly $500 billion in investment commitments over two days. The summit and bill set up October decisions on national interest listings, including the deep geological repository and pipeline files.

Climate and immigration files

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin led Canada’s delegation to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development in Beijing from September 27 to 29, building on more than 30 years of Canada-China environmental cooperation. On immigration, Canada invited 3,500 trades candidates to apply for permanent residence in an Express Entry round held October 1.

Want a deeper dive on any of these — the tariff list, the AI council’s mandate, or the upcoming rate decision?