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Weekly Market Snapshot — May 2, 2026: TSX Slips on Energy & Bank Pressure

Your weekly brief on what moved Canadian markets — and what to watch next. TSX at a Glance The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended Friday down 0.2% at 33,891 , underperforming its U.S. counterparts as pressure mounted from energy producers and banks amid a busy earnings season. Energy Sector Under Pressure Oil prices remained a key headwind for the week. WTI crude stayed volatile as diplomatic efforts between Iran and the U.S. showed limited progress, keeping inflation risks and supply disruptions front of mind for investors. On the equity side, Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor both dropped around 1.5%, while Imperial Oil sank 4% following its earnings release. TC Energy also fell over 1% after its quarterly report. Banks Feel the Pinch Canada's big banks didn't escape the week unscathed. Heavyweight financial names TD and RBC closed in the red, weighed down by pessimistic spending demand signals highlighted in the domestic GDP report released Thursday. Earni...

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Provinces to Fund Nurse Practitioners for Primary Care by 2026

 

Starting in 2026, provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives. This change is part of a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced that regulated health-care professionals who aren't doctors will be able to bill the government for medically necessary services that would otherwise be provided by a physician.

The move aims to address the shortage of primary care providers and ensure that patients are not paying out of pocket for necessary care. Holland emphasized that charging patients for these services isn't consistent with universal health care and that nurse practitioners should be able to bill the health-care system the same way doctors do.

This policy change is expected to relieve pressure on primary care physicians and improve access to needed care. The changes will be enforced through federal health transfer payments, which could be deducted if patients are charged for medically necessary care.




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