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5 Things to Know Today: U.S. Alcohol Ban, GDP Day, 5.25% Yields (Sept 29)

  Tuesday September 29, 2026 A U.S. import ban on Canadian booze kicks in, Statistics Canada reports July GDP, and U.S. bond yields sit at levels not seen since 2007. Here are the five things that matter for your wallet today. 1 The U.S. ban on Canadian alcohol takes effect today As of 12:01 a.m. ET, the U.S. is refusing entry to many Canadian beer, wine, cider and spirits shipments, along with whey products, molasses and larger motorcycles. The measures were signed Sept. 8 and largely replace the 50% tariffs that applied to these goods. Bottles already in the U.S. can still be sold, and product shipped in bulk to be bottled south of the border appears to fall outside the ban. Canadian producers say pivoting to domestic sales won't be easy, because a patchwork of provincial rules complicates selling across borders. What it means for you: The ban hits exports, not what you pay at the store. The exposure is for people who work in or own shares of brewers, distillers and wineries, a...
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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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