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What to Do with Your Tax Refund: 5 Smart Moves for Canadians

  Tax Season · Personal Finance By MoneySavings.ca Editorial Team • May 7, 2026 • 7 min read Tax season is wrapping up across Canada, and for millions of Canadians, that means a refund cheque — or a direct deposit — is on its way. The average Canadian tax refund hovers around $1,800. That's real money. The question is: what's the smartest thing you can do with it? It's tempting to treat a tax refund like "found money" and splurge. But here's the truth — that refund was your money all along. The government was just holding it for you, interest-free. So before it quietly disappears into day-to-day spending, let's look at five moves that will make it work harder for you. $1,800 The average Canadian tax refund — enough to make a meaningful dent in debt, pad an emergency fund, or kick-start your TFSA for the year. 1 Pay Down High-Interest Debt First If you're carrying a balance on a credit card, this should be your very first call. Most Canadian credit car...
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Alberta Teachers’ Strike Threat Casts Shadow Over Back-to-School Season

                 

With the first day of the 2025–26 school year just days away, Alberta’s classrooms face uncertainty as contract talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government remain stalled. In June, nearly 95% of teachers voted in favour of strike action if a new deal could not be reached, citing overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and wages that have not kept pace with inflation.

ATA president Jason Schilling says educators are entering the year with “trepidation and frustration,” pointing to Alberta’s position as the lowest-funded province in Canada for per-student spending. The union is pushing for smaller class sizes, better supports for students, and competitive pay to attract and retain teachers.

The provincial government maintains that its offer is fair and competitive, but has not met the ATA’s demands for improved classroom conditions and additional staffing. If no agreement is reached, the ATA could issue a 72-hour strike notice, potentially disrupting the start of the school year on September 2.

School boards, including the Calgary Board of Education and Lethbridge School Division, are preparing contingency plans to keep learning going if job action occurs. For now, parents, students, and educators are left waiting to see whether the first bell of the year will ring as scheduled — or be drowned out by picket lines.


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