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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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Armed Guard or Occupied City? Life Under Trump’s Washington Crackdown

    

National Guard stand guard at Paramount Business Center parking lot n the Los Angeles County city of Paramount, California.   


In Washington, D.C., the sight of National Guard troops patrolling iconic streets has become part of daily life. President Donald Trump’s declared “crime emergency” has brought nearly 2,000 Guard members — soon to be armed with M17 pistols or M4 rifles — alongside federal agents from the FBI, ICE, and Border Patrol.

Supporters say the surge is restoring order, pointing to Trump’s claims that the city is “safer than ever” under his intervention. Federal forces have been stationed at landmarks like the National Mall and Union Station, assisting with crowd control and, at times, performing small acts of kindness — from helping commuters with luggage to feeding squirrels.

But critics, including D.C. councilmembers, warn the move is an authoritarian overreach that invites unnecessary confrontation. In neighborhoods like Anacostia, reactions are mixed: some welcome the increased police presence, while others say it bypasses communities most in need and fuels anxiety among residents.

The crackdown has also sparked protests, with demonstrators decrying the militarized atmosphere and pop-up immigration checkpoints. Despite a reported drop in violent crime over the past year, Trump insists the data is misleading and has hinted at expanding similar operations to cities like Chicago and New York.

For now, Washington remains a city under watch — its monuments guarded, its politics polarized, and its residents caught between promises of safety and fears of control.


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