Skip to main content

Featured

CUSMA Not Renewed: What the Trade Deal Impasse Means for Your Wallet

  July 2, 2026 | Trade & Economy The mandatory six-year review of Canada's most important trade agreement came and went this week — and it did not go the way Ottawa hoped. On July 1, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the United States will not renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in its current form, sending the deal into a more uncertain, year-by-year footing right as Canadians are already navigating tariffs, a soft labour market, and a technical recession. Here is what actually happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for your budget in the months ahead. The short version CUSMA isn't dead. It remains legally in force until 2036. But instead of locking in a fresh 16-year term, the deal now shifts into annual reviews, with existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and softwood lumber unresolved for now. What happened on July 1 CUSMA was built with a mandatory joint review every six years. If Canada, the U.S. and Mexico had a...

article

Canadian Seniors to Receive Increased Old Age Benefits

 

Canadian seniors are set to receive a boost in their Old Age Security (OAS) benefits starting this July. The increase, which is part of a scheduled adjustment to account for inflation, will see benefits rise by 2.8% compared to the previous year.

For seniors aged 65 to 74, the maximum monthly OAS payment will now be up to $718.33. Those aged 75 and older will receive a maximum monthly payment of $790.16. These adjustments are crucial as retirement becomes increasingly unaffordable for many Canadians.

In addition to the OAS pension, eligible seniors and their partners may also qualify for extra benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Allowance, and the Allowance for the Survivor. For single, widowed, or divorced Canadians aged 65 or older with an annual net income of less than $21,768, the maximum GIS payment per month is set at $1,072.93.

These increases aim to provide better financial support to seniors, ensuring they can maintain a decent standard of living during their retirement years.


Comments