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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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Trade War Turbulence: Canada’s Q2 GDP Suffers Steepest Drop Since Pandemic

 

                                        `  A railway grain terminal in Alberta. 


Canada’s economy contracted sharply in the second quarter of 2025, posting a 1.6% annualized decline — the steepest drop since the COVID-19 pandemic — as U.S. tariffs battered exports and dampened business investment. Statistics Canada reported that international shipments of passenger cars and light trucks plunged nearly 25%, while industrial machinery exports fell over 18%.

The downturn followed a temporary boost in Q1, when businesses rushed orders ahead of anticipated tariffs. Imports also fell, partly due to Canada’s retaliatory measures, but this was not enough to offset the export slump.

Despite the trade hit, household spending rose 4.5%, and housing activity remained resilient, offering some cushion to the economy. Still, the weak momentum heading into Q3 has left economists divided on whether the Bank of Canada will cut interest rates at its September meeting.

The data underscores the toll of escalating trade tensions with the U.S., Canada’s largest trading partner, and signals that while domestic demand shows strength, external headwinds could keep growth subdued in the months ahead.


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