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5 Things to Know Today: Canada Enters Recession, Oil Slips on Iran Ceasefire Talk

Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Your quick-hit Canadian financial briefing for the day. 1.Canada Officially Meets the Definition of a Technical Recession Statistics Canada confirmed Friday that real GDP contracted 0.1% on an annualized basis in Q1 2026 — following a revised 1.0% drop in Q4 2025 . That's two straight quarters of negative growth, which meets the technical definition of a recession. The miss was a big one: economists had forecast growth of 1.5% . The main culprits were a surge in imports (up 2.9%, largely gold), declining business capital investment (down 0.7% — its fifth consecutive quarterly drop ), and weakness in resource extraction and construction. On a per-capita basis, GDP actually edged up 0.2% as Canada's population shrank for the second quarter in a row. Not everyone is ready to call it a full recession: some economists note that three of the four weak months were isolated, and early April data points to a sharp 0.4% rebound . Still, the numbers ...

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Ford Hails Progress in U.S.-Canada Trade Talks


Ontario Premier Doug Ford described his recent meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as "very, very productive," signaling a potential thaw in the tense trade relations between Canada and the United States. The meeting, held in Washington, D.C., focused on addressing escalating tariffs and fostering a more collaborative economic relationship.

Ford expressed optimism, stating, "The temperature's coming down," and emphasized the importance of finding common ground for the benefit of both nations. While specific details of the discussions remain under wraps, the promise of continued dialogue next week suggests a commitment to resolving trade disputes amicably.

This meeting comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other's goods. Ford's efforts to de-escalate the situation highlight the significance of diplomacy in navigating complex international trade dynamics.

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