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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...

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Federal Officials Ignored Auditor’s Call to Report Suspicious $160-Million Contract to RCMP


Federal officials have reportedly ignored calls from an auditor to refer a suspicious $160-million contract to the RCMP for investigation. The auditor, who was involved in a federal program prioritizing Indigenous companies, produced a report alleging that a large nurse staffing agency exploited its Indigenous partner and submitted fraudulent documents. Despite the auditor's substantial evidence and recommendation to involve the RCMP, federal officials chose not to act, citing concerns about potential troubles.

The contract in question was an eight-year agreement to deliver nursing services in remote Indigenous communities. The auditor's findings led to the removal of the joint venture from the Indigenous Business Directory managed by Indigenous Services Canada.

This case highlights ongoing issues within federal procurement practices and raises questions about accountability and transparency in handling allegations of fraud.



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