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The Canada Brief Oct. 12, 2026 | From Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom A rough jobs report, a large heat pump rebate and an Alberta referendum one week away. This issue looks at what the numbers mean for your household. Thanks for reading. The Canada News Media team The big story
File photo, not tied to the jobs report. Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, and the Bank of Canada is next Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, the second straight monthly decline, and the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent from 6.4 per cent, Statistics Canada said. Economists had expected a small gain. August employment fell by about 42,000, according to Global News, so the two months together have wiped out more than half of the 181,000 jobs added from April to July, Money.ca reported. Young people aged 15 to 24 lost 48,000 jobs. The report is the Bank of Canada’s last look at the labour market before its Oct. 28 decision, and the bank is widely expected to leave its key rate at 2.25 per cent. That matters if you carry a variable-rate mortgage or a line of credit, because the discussion in markets is about a possible hike, not a cut, with inflation at 3.0 per cent in August. Five things to know Carney names 13 to new national AI council Prime Minister Mark Carney named 13 people, including AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, to a new National Council on Artificial Intelligence. It will advise Ottawa on AI safety, protecting democracy and making sure Canadians benefit from the technology. Read more Building Canada Strong Act clears Commons vote 296-26 Bill C-39 passed second reading 296-26 on Oct. 8 and now goes to committee for study. It changes how major projects are reviewed and sets decision timelines, and its labour section drew the most fire. Read more Arrests of Canadians in U.S. jump 60%, Ottawa says Global Affairs Canada recorded 577 cases of Canadians arrested or detained in the U.S. in the year ending March 31, up from 361, even as trips south fell 25 per cent. The figures do not say why the numbers rose, but they matter if you plan to cross the border. Read more Carney, Poilievre to visit Alberta before Oct. 19 vote Albertans will answer 10 questions on Oct. 19, including whether to start the legal process toward a later, binding vote on separation. A yes vote would not by itself take Alberta out of Canada. Read more PBO: Fuel tax pause favours higher-income families The parliamentary budget officer says the average family saves $276 from the pause on the federal fuel tax, but families in the top income fifth save $468 and those in the bottom fifth save $132. The taxes come back in full on April 1. Read more Only at Canada News Media CBSA contract listed with a Dec. 1, 2026 signing date Our own review of the 1,000 most recent records in the federal contract register found four whose dates do not match the quarter they were reported in. Read more A 1950 ruling voided deeds that barred Black buyers Our Black Canadian history reporting on the Supreme Court of Canada case that struck down a racially restrictive covenant in Ontario. Read more Your money Ottawa unveils $2B heat pump rebate of up to $10,000 Households below the median income can receive up to $10,000 toward an eligible heat pump, and other eligible homeowners can receive $2,000. The rebate is not available yet, with a launch planned for early 2027, but the Globe and Mail reported it will be retroactive to this fall, which matters if your heating system fails in the coming months. Read more Health desk Canada advises a whooping cough shot in every pregnancy The Canadian Immunization Guide says every pregnant person should be offered a Tdap vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 32 weeks. Babies cannot get their own pertussis vaccine until they are two months old, so a late-pregnancy dose is meant to cover that gap. Read more By the numbers 68,000: jobs Canada lost in September, a drop of 0.3 per cent. Source $276: the average family saves from the federal fuel tax pause, according to the parliamentary budget officer. Source 577: cases of Canadians arrested or detained in the U.S. in the year ending March 31, up from 361. Source Sports Oilers beat Sharks 3-1 for fourth straight win Vasily Podkolzin and Alex Formenton scored 2:27 apart in the third period Saturday, and Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 13 points through five games. The Oilers will seek a fifth straight win at the Kings on Tuesday. Read more | Oilers at Kings On this day On This Day: Métis halt Red River survey, 1869 On Oct. 11, 1869, unarmed Métis riders led by Louis Riel stopped a Canadian government survey crew near what is now Winnipeg, the first public act of the Red River Resistance. Read more Before you go How to Test Smoke and CO Alarms at Home in Canada Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once a month by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds, and replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old. Read more Sponsored Reach engaged Canadian readers. 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