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5 Things to Know Today: Oil Surges, Tariffs Land Tomorrow, Your Gas Tax Break Survives

  Monday, September 7, 2026 — Labour Day | Canadian Money Brief Markets are closed for the holiday, but the week ahead is loaded. Here are five things worth knowing before you head back to your desk tomorrow. 1. Oil Hits a Five-Week High as the Iran Conflict Escalates Crude climbed to $92.06 US/barrel on Saturday — up 17.75% over the past month and nearly 48% year over year — after Iran and the United States exchanged missile strikes this week. Israel's defence minister has threatened "crippling" attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, the EU has formally joined the US-led sanctions campaign, and US Vice President JD Vance said Washington won't hold peace talks until Iran stops targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. What it means for you: Even with the federal gas tax break extended (see #4), pump prices track the price of crude itself. If your tank's getting low, filling up early this week may beat whatever the Strait of Hormuz situation does to prices by...
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Canadian Business Insolvencies Double in January

 

The Canadian business landscape faced a significant upheaval in January as business insolvencies more than doubled compared to the same period last year. This surge in insolvencies also surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the month.

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy reported 759 business insolvencies in January, marking a 42.4% increase from December and a staggering 129.3% rise from January 2023. To put this into perspective, back in January 2020—before the pandemic began—there were only 308 business insolvencies.

These business insolvencies encompass both bankruptcies and proposals (where some or all of the debt is paid back). The situation was further complicated by the $60,000 Canada Emergency Business Account loans, which were distributed to nearly 900,000 businesses and non-profit organizations to help them weather the pandemic storm. Up to one-third of this loan could be forgiven if the remaining two-thirds were repaid by January 18. Otherwise, the debt transformed into a three-year loan with a five percent annual interest rate. Businesses were also given the option to refinance their loans before the end of March and still qualify for partial forgiveness.

However, many businesses missed the January deadline due to other pandemic-related debts. The impact of these insolvencies extends beyond the numbers reported, as numerous small businesses simply shut their doors without formally filing for insolvency. In the words of Simon Gaudreault, Chief Economist and Vice-President of Research at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), “Insolvencies are just the tip of the iceberg.”

The sectors hit hardest by this surge in insolvencies include accommodation and food services, retail trade, and construction. While business bankruptcies rose significantly year-over-year, proposals also saw an increase. Consumer insolvencies followed suit, growing by 23.5% compared to the previous year but remaining lower than in January 2020.

As the Canadian economy grapples with pandemic debt and higher interest rates, policymakers and business owners alike will closely monitor the situation. The real toll on businesses may be even greater than the reported numbers, emphasizing the need for continued support and vigilance.


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