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Best Low-Cost ETFs for Canadian Investors in 2026 — Complete Guide

  Published: April 2026 | Reading time: 12 min | Category: Investing, Personal Finance, RRSP, TFSA If you want to build long-term wealth in Canada without paying a financial advisor 1–2% of your portfolio every year, low-cost ETFs are the answer. A single well-chosen ETF can give you instant exposure to hundreds or thousands of companies worldwide — for as little as 0.20% in annual fees. This guide covers the best ETFs available to Canadian investors in 2026 — for your TFSA, RRSP, and non-registered accounts — with clear explanations of what each one holds, what it costs, and who it's best for. Why Low-Cost ETFs Beat Most Other Investments for Canadians Before getting into specific funds, here's why this matters so much. The fee problem with mutual funds The average Canadian mutual fund charges a Management Expense Ratio (MER) of 2–2.5% per year. That might sound small, but on a $200,000 portfolio it's $4,000–$5,000 leaving your account every single year — regar...

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Canadian Manufacturers of COVID-19 Protective Equipment Sue Ottawa for $5 Billion in Damages

 

Canadian manufacturers who produce masks and other protective equipment to combat COVID-19 are pursuing legal action against the federal government, seeking more than $5 billion in damages. Their claim alleges that Ottawa misled them regarding the purchase and promotion of their products.

In a statement of claim filed in Federal Court, the companies and their industry association assert that the government made “negligent misrepresentations” that led them to invest in personal protective equipment innovations, manufacturing, and production. These misrepresentations spanned a three-year period starting in March 2020. The companies and the Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers contend that the government provided misleading information about markets, direct assistance, flexible procurement, and long-term support.

The Canadian government had communicated through an initiative called Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19 that there would be new measures to directly support businesses in rapidly scaling up production or retooling their manufacturing lines. However, despite identifying masks and respirators as vital items for an airborne pandemic, the government did not contract with the Canadian companies, invoking a national security exception for procurement. Furthermore, in June 2021, the government allegedly promised a 10-year contract with the industry association and businesses to compensate for not purchasing protective equipment from domestic firms.

The companies claim that these misrepresentations resulted in approximately $88 million in investment losses and a further $5.4 billion in projected lost market opportunities over a ten-year period. They emphasize that this promise came from the highest levels of the Canadian government and was propagated across all relevant departments.

As the court case proceeds, the federal government will have an opportunity to respond to these unproven allegations. The manufacturers’ “special relationship” with the government, born out of a duty of care to small- and medium-sized businesses, underscores the significance of this legal battle.

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