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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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Trade Tensions Escalate as Trump Maintains Tariffs Amid Ford's Policy Shift

 

In a recent development, U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to keep the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports intact, despite Ontario Premier Doug Ford's decision to lift the electricity tax on U.S.-bound energy. The tariffs, initially imposed as part of a broader trade strategy, have been a point of contention between the two nations.

Ford's move to remove the electricity tax was seen as an olive branch to ease trade tensions. However, Trump's administration has opted to maintain the tariffs, citing the need to protect domestic industries. This decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding the commitment to American manufacturing, while others criticize the potential strain on U.S.-Canada relations.

The ongoing trade dispute underscores the complexities of international economic policies and their far-reaching implications. As both leaders stand firm on their respective stances, the path to resolution remains uncertain.

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