The Canada Brief: Week of October 26, 2026

The Canada Brief

October 26, 2026 | From Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom

Good morning. A federal budget date, a tariff list that changes Friday and a big night in British Columbia set the tone this week, and most of it comes back to what you pay and what you earn. Below are the stories that matter most for your wallet and your week ahead, plus three we reported that you will not find elsewhere. The Canada News Media team

the big story

File photo: François-Philippe Champagne, then foreign affairs minister, in Vienna on Oct. 14, 2020. BMEIA / Gruber, CC BY 2.0

Federal budget lands Nov. 5; PBO sees deeper deficits

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will table the federal budget on Nov. 5, giving Canadians their first look at any new tax, benefit or spending changes since the spring economic update. The same day, the Parliamentary Budget Office said new spending has used up the gains from higher oil prices. It now sees deficits about $3 billion a year deeper than it projected in June, and expects the deficit to stay above $63 billion in 2030-31, compared with the $53 billion in the government’s spring update. No measures that would directly affect household finances have been announced, so details on income tax and benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit will not be known until the budget is tabled.

Read the full story

five things to know

B.C. Conservatives win majority as Eby resigns as NDP leader

The B.C. Conservatives under interim leader Lorne Doerkson won a majority government, leading or elected in 62 of 93 ridings in preliminary results, and Premier David Eby said he is resigning as NDP leader. It ends nine years of NDP rule, and Prime Minister Mark Carney said he looks forward to working with Doerkson on housing and energy. Read more

Hassett says U.S.-Canada trade deal is ‘very close’

White House adviser Kevin Hassett said talks are gathering steam, though no deal text or signing date has been released. Tariff changes take effect Oct. 30, with cocoa powder, vinyl flooring and shampoos added to the 50 per cent list, so exporters of those goods face higher costs from Friday. Read more

Canada receives first two F-35 jets as order stays in limbo

The Royal Canadian Air Force announced the delivery of two Lockheed Martin jets on Friday, even as Prime Minister Mark Carney has paused a planned order of 88. Canada could still end up with a mixed fleet that includes Sweden’s Gripen, so the size of a major defence purchase remains undecided. Read more

Oil settles at six-month high as Brent hits US$116.72

Brent crude settled at US$116.72 a barrel on Friday, its highest close since April 29, as Middle East attacks intensified. For Alberta the gain is only partly a windfall, because the Western Canadian Select discount was last verified at US$27 a barrel below WTI. Read more

Time change Nov. 1: where clocks go back in Canada

Clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Ontario’s eastern time zone, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, but not in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories or northwestern Ontario. The gap between neighbouring provinces shifts even where nobody touches a clock, so check your devices over the weekend. Read more

only at canada news media

Hate crimes against Black people rose 6% to 873 in 2024

Police reported 873 hate crimes targeting Black people in 2024, the second-highest total for any group. Exclusive to us: our own calculation from Statistics Canada’s detailed tables shows these made up about 18 per cent of all police-reported hate crimes. Read more

Josiah Henson reached Upper Canada on Oct. 28, 1830

Our Black Canadian history desk traces the escape of the man who later founded the Dawn Settlement, and flags where historical sources disagree. Read more

your money

Rent increase limits for 2027: where each province stands

Ontario landlords can raise rent by no more than 1.9 per cent in 2027, the lowest limit among provinces that set one, while B.C. is at 2.2 per cent and Nova Scotia allows up to 5 per cent. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have no fixed percentage cap. Read more

health desk

Canada’s measles outbreak is over: what it means for you

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the outbreak that involved more than 6,400 cases is over, but Canada has not regained measles elimination status. Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine give strong protection, so check your family’s shots. Read more

by the numbers

More than 6,400 cases: the size of Canada’s multi-jurisdictional measles outbreak. Source

873: hate crimes targeting Black people reported by police in 2024. Source

US$116.72: where Brent crude settled on Friday, Oct. 23. Source

sports

Oilers first: the Toronto Maple Leafs scored four times in the third period to beat Edmonton 7-2 at Rogers Place, with William Nylander scoring twice and Leon Draisaitl getting both Oilers goals. Read more Elsewhere, the Raptors suffered their first loss of the season, 117-94 to the Timberwolves. Read more

on this day

On Oct. 26, 1813, Canadian militia, regulars and Mohawk warriors under Lt.-Col. Charles-Michel de Salaberry turned back a much larger American army at the Châteauguay River, ending a U.S. thrust toward Montreal. Read more

before you go

Cold snaps are when most drivers find out their battery is weak. Our guide walks through the correct order for jumper cables, and warns never to try to jump a battery that looks frozen, cracked or leaking. How to jump-start a car in cold weather

Want the data behind the headlines? Our Insights Brief digs into federal contracts, lobbying and spending every two weeks. Read a free sample: canadanewsmedia.ca/insights-brief (US$49 a month, cancel any time).

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