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5 Things to Know Today: Gas Prices Keep Falling, WestJet's Strike Drags On, and the Tariff Clock Is Ticking

  Monday, August 3, 2026 — Civic Holiday It's the Civic Holiday, so the TSX and the big banks are closed — but plenty is still moving that will hit your wallet this week. Here are five things worth knowing today. 1. Markets and banks are closed today — here's what that means for your money The TSX, TSX Venture, and Montreal Exchange are shut for the Civic Holiday and reopen Tuesday morning. Most major banks are closed too, which means e-transfers, bill payments, and cheque deposits made today may not clear until Tuesday. What it means for you: If you have a mortgage payment, credit card payment, or bill due today, submit it a day early where possible to avoid a processing delay counting against you. Any trades placed today will execute Tuesday when markets reopen. 2. Oil just crashed — and gas prices are following it down Brent crude fell roughly 6% to close to $84 a barrel after reports that a planned strike on Iran was called off, easing fears of a wider Middle East supply di...
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Aid World in Turmoil: USAID Contractors Face Layoffs and Cash Crunch Under Trump Overhaul


In a dramatic shakeup of U.S. foreign assistance, contractors working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been forced to fire staff and grapple with severe cash shortages amid sweeping changes imposed by President Donald Trump. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a comprehensive review—and subsequent freeze—of nearly all U.S. foreign aid programs. The move, aimed at realigning spending with “America First” priorities, has led to blanket stop-work orders that left hundreds of contractors without incoming payments for approved projects.

Contractors, who normally front project costs and then invoice the government, suddenly found their revenue streams drying up. As a result, companies reported laying off large portions of their workforce and initiating furloughs, with some citing unpaid invoices worth millions of dollars. The financial crunch has not only jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of aid workers but also threatened critical programs abroad—from nutritional support for malnourished children to life-saving health initiatives.

Critics warn that these abrupt changes risk undermining decades of humanitarian work that has saved millions of lives, while supporters argue that the review is necessary to eliminate waste and ensure that aid spending directly supports U.S. national interests. As the situation unfolds, uncertainty looms over the future of U.S. foreign assistance, with contractors and aid organizations bracing for further disruptions and potential legal battles over lost benefits and unpaid debts.


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