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Eddie Bauer’s North American Operator Races to Find Buyer as Bankruptcy Looms

            Shoppers pass a closing sale at an Eddie Bauer store in Vaughan, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.  Eddie Bauer’s store operator in the United States and Canada is urgently searching for a buyer in a last‑ditch effort to prevent widespread closures tied to its recent bankruptcy proceedings. The company, which oversees the brand’s retail footprint across both countries, has entered Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. and is preparing a similar filing in Canada. Roughly 220 stores are now in play, including more than 30 Canadian locations. While doors remain open for the moment, liquidation sales have already begun as part of the restructuring process. The operator says its goal is to secure a buyer capable of keeping the stores running, but warns that without one, closures could follow. The financial strain reflects the broader challenges facing legacy retailers—rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and intense competition. As court ...

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Trudeau Announces $15 Billion Boost to Housing Program

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled plans for a $15 billion increase to the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) as part of Budget 2024. This significant boost aims to construct a minimum of 30,000 new apartments across Canada.

As part of this announcement, the Prime Minister also introduced the Canada Builds program. This initiative will partner with provinces and territories to build rental housing, providing federal financing under certain conditions. These conditions include complementing federal funding with their own investments, utilizing government, non-profit, community-owned, and vacant lands, and streamlining development approval timelines to no longer than 18 months.

The Apartment Construction Loan Program, launched in 2017, has already committed over $18 billion in loans to support the creation of more than 48,000 new rental homes. With this top-up, the program’s financing is now on track to build over 131,000 new apartments within the next decade. Reforms announced alongside this boost include extending loan terms and broadening access to financing for housing aimed at students and seniors.

This move represents a significant step toward addressing Canada’s housing challenges and ensuring affordable housing options for citizens. As the country continues to grow, initiatives like the ACLP play a crucial role in meeting the housing needs of Canadians.


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