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5 Things to Know Today: Gas Tax Holiday Extended to 2027, BoC Holds, TSX Rebounds

  September 3, 2026 A big one for your wallet just landed: Ottawa is keeping the gas tax break alive well past Labour Day. Here's what else moved markets and money in Canada today. 1. Gas tax holiday extended to January 31, 2027 The federal fuel excise tax break that was set to expire on Labour Day (Sept. 7) isn't going anywhere. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed the suspension of the 10-cent-per-litre gasoline excise tax and 4-cent-per-litre diesel tax will now run until January 31, 2027, before being phased back in at half-rate from Feb. 1 to March 31 and fully restored April 1. Ottawa first introduced the break in April to offset oil-price shocks tied to the Iran war. What it means for you: The scheduled Sept. 8 jump of 10–11 cents a litre is off the table for now. CAA pegged the national average at 172.9 cents/litre this week — budget around that level rather than the higher price many drivers had braced for. 2. Bank of Canada holds rate at 2.25% for a...

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Total Solar Eclipse: A Celestial Spectacle Over Canada

 

The path of totality, where the sun goes directly behind the moon, will first cross through southwestern Ontario around 3:15 p.m. on Monday. From there, it will move east through Quebec and Atlantic Canada, exiting Newfoundland around 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Cities and towns along this path have braced for their populations to swell with eclipse chasers, with Ontario’s Niagara region even declaring a preemptive state of emergency.

As the total eclipse approaches, the sky will darken, and wildlife may fall silent as if nighttime nears. Temperatures will dip, and winds may change. The moon’s shadow will creep up on the landscape to the west. Some lucky observers may even witness shadow bands, resembling waves of light on the bottom of a swimming pool. And then, in a shared moment of awe, eclipse watchers will see the sun move directly behind the moon, casting the world into a temporary twilight.

While the next total solar eclipse in Canada is expected to pass through western provinces in 20 years, this celestial alignment only graces any given location roughly once every 360 years by some estimates. Much of Canada will still be able to witness a partial eclipse, but those gathered along the path of totality—ranging from 164 to 196 kilometers wide—will get the full show, weather permitting.

For Iyalie Russell and Gabby Gregor, their path to the solar eclipse watch spot at Niagara Falls, Ont., began in a history of astronomy course at York University. Their friendship sparked there, and they laid plans to eventually watch the solar eclipse together. Brian Rogers and his family traveled from the United States to Niagara Falls, eager to experience the eclipse framed by the iconic falls. Rogers recalled the last eclipse, saying, “It was kind of surreal because all the crickets and animals around us started making night noises, and that was pretty neat. They were confused about the situation” .

So, whether you’re in the path of totality or witnessing a partial eclipse, take a moment to look up, marvel at the cosmic dance, and let the celestial awe wash over you. 

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