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5 Things to Know Today: Job Losses, a Sliding Loonie and Budget 2026 (Nov. 7)

  Canadian Money Brief · Saturday, November 7, 2026 Canada’s job losses stretched to a third month, the loonie took its biggest one-day hit since January, and the federal budget landed with a few items for your wallet. Here’s what to know today. 1 Canada’s job market has now lost jobs three months in a row Statistics Canada said the economy shed 4,700 jobs in October, well short of the gain of about 13,600 economists expected. The unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.5%, a six-month high. That follows losses of 42,000 in August and 68,000 in September, and the country has added just 17,000 jobs over the past 12 months. Alberta lost 24,000 jobs, youth unemployment climbed to 13.7%, and average hourly wages were up only 2.2% from a year earlier. What it means for you: Wages are rising 2.2% a year while September inflation was 3.1%, so paycheques are losing ground. If your income feels less certain, this is a good week to check that your emergency fund covers three to six months of ...

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Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and consumer woes

 


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Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and spending woes

Canada’s economy contracted by 1.1 per cent on an annualized basis in the third quarter of 2023, according to Statistics Canada. This was a much weaker result than expected by analysts and the Bank of Canada, which had forecast a slight growth of 0.1 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

The main factors behind the economic decline were a drop in exports, a slump in business investment, and a stagnation in consumer spending. Exports fell by 5.1 per cent, reflecting lower shipments of energy products, motor vehicles, and aircraft. Business investment decreased by 10.1 per cent, as firms reduced their spending on machinery and equipment, intellectual property, and non-residential structures. Consumer spending was flat, as households saved more of their income amid rising interest rates.

The only bright spots in the third quarter were government spending, which increased by 7.3 per cent, boosted by a one-time GST/HST credit payment, and residential housing investment, which rose by 8.3 per cent, driven by a surge in new construction.

The Canadian economy also performed poorly compared with the U.S. economy, which grew by 5.2 per cent in the same period. Canada has been more sensitive to the impact of higher interest rates, which have been raised by the Bank of Canada to 5 per cent from 0.25 per cent since early 2022. The central bank has recently signalled that it may pause or reverse its tightening cycle, as inflation has eased and economic growth has faltered.

Some economists believe that the third quarter contraction was a temporary setback and that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter and beyond. Statistics Canada estimated that GDP grew by 0.2 per cent in October, indicating a modest recovery. However, others warn that the economy may face more headwinds in the new year, such as the ongoing supply chain disruptions, the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, and the uncertainty over the federal fiscal policy.

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