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5 Things to Know Today: 68,000 Jobs Lost, a Weaker Loonie and the Oct. 28 BoC Decision

  Oct 12, 2026   Happy Thanksgiving. Canadian markets are closed today, but the numbers that shape your wallet aren't taking the day off. Here are five things to know on Monday, October 12. 1. Canada lost about 68,000 jobs in September, wiping out 2026's gains Statistics Canada reported that employment fell by roughly 68,000 in September, following a 41,700-job drop in August. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.5% from 6.4%. Economists had forecast a small gain. Put the two months together and Canada has lost about 41,200 jobs so far this year, compared with a gain of 211,300 over the same stretch of 2025, according to Reuters. The losses were spread almost evenly between full-time and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector. Workers aged 15 to 24 lost 48,000 jobs, Quebec shed 49,000, and Ontario's unemployment rate sits at 7.0%, the highest among the large provinces. Average hourly wages were up 2.3% from a year ago. What it means for you: A softening j...
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U.S. Pushes for Hezbollah Disarmament and Israeli Withdrawal by Year's End

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam attend a cabinet meeting to discuss efforts to bring all weapons in the country under the control of the state, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 5, 2025,


The United States has presented Lebanon with a sweeping proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah and facilitating a phased Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon by December 31, 2025. The plan, submitted by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, outlines a four-phase roadmap designed to stabilize the region and reinforce a fragile ceasefire agreement brokered last November.

Key Components of the Proposal:

  • Phase 1: Lebanon must issue a decree committing to Hezbollah’s full disarmament. Israel would halt all military operations—land, air, and sea.
  • Phase 2: Lebanon begins implementing the disarmament plan, including deploying the national army to take control of all weapons. Israel starts withdrawing from five positions in southern Lebanon.
  • Phase 3: Israel completes its withdrawal, and international funding is secured for rubble removal and infrastructure rehabilitation.
  • Phase 4: Hezbollah’s remaining heavy weapons, including missiles and drones, must be dismantled. An international economic conference will support Lebanon’s reconstruction.

Political Reactions:

The Lebanese cabinet approved the general objectives of the plan, but Hezbollah and its allies strongly opposed it. Several Shiite ministers walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest, accusing the government of yielding to U.S. and Israeli pressure. Hezbollah declared it would treat the decision “as if it does not exist” and reiterated its demand for Israel to first withdraw from occupied positions and cease airstrikes.

International Involvement:

The plan envisions support from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other nations to help Lebanon rebuild and transition to a state-controlled security framework.

While the proposal has sparked intense debate within Lebanon, it represents the most detailed diplomatic effort yet to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal and end Israeli military presence in the region. Whether it can overcome entrenched resistance remains to be seen.

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