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Budget Day 2026: What a $63B+ Deficit Means for Your Wallet

  Canadian Money Brief • Thursday, November 5, 2026 Ottawa tables its second Carney-era budget today. Almost everyone expects big spending. Hardly anyone expects it to help their own bank account. Here is what the numbers say, and what to do about it. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says today’s budget is about “changing Canada’s growth model”: less reliance on the U.S., more building at home. That is a big-picture pitch. Your household budget is a small-picture problem, and a new Abacus Data poll shows the gap between the two is wide. The poll in one line: only 10% of Canadians expect Budget 2026 to make their household better off. 30% expect to be worse off, and 48% expect little difference. (Abacus Data, 1,809 adults, Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.) The deficit, in plain numbers The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) is the government’s independent fiscal referee. Its latest outlook, which predates the budget and only counts measures already announced, sets the stage: PBO proj...

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Ottawa to Remove Federal Exceptions from Canadian Free Trade Agreement

 

In a significant move to bolster interprovincial trade, the Canadian government has announced the removal of more than half of its federal exceptions from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). This decision, spearheaded by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand, aims to reduce internal trade barriers and enhance economic cooperation across provinces.

The CFTA, established in 2017, was designed to modernize the Agreement on Internal Trade and facilitate the free movement of goods, services, and labor within Canada. However, numerous exceptions have hindered its effectiveness. The federal government initially had 56 exceptions, but with the recent removal of 20 more, the total now stands at 19.

The majority of the removed exceptions pertain to government procurement, providing Canadian businesses with greater opportunities to compete nationwide. This action is expected to lower prices, boost productivity, and add up to $200 billion to the domestic economy.

Minister Anand emphasized the importance of mutual recognition of rules across provinces to streamline labor mobility and reduce regulatory burdens. The federal government is encouraging provinces and territories to follow suit and eliminate their own trade barriers.

This announcement comes at a critical time, as Canada faces potential trade disruptions from the United States. By strengthening internal trade, Canada aims to become less reliant on its southern neighbor and build a more resilient domestic economy.

The Committee on Internal Trade will review the federal changes and continue working with provinces to improve internal trade. More announcements are expected in the coming weeks as Canada strives to create a more open and efficient domestic market.



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