Food Banks Canada is calling for long-needed economic security reforms, warning that millions of people in Canada are now facing impossible trade-offs as they struggle to afford basic needs.

Monthly visits to Canada’s food banks rose to a devastating 2.35 million in 2026 — increasing nearly 9% over the past year and 117% since 2019 — according to Food Bank Canada’s 2026 HungerCount an annual research study encompassing the country’s 5,500+ food banks and community organizations.

“HungerCount 2026 is the story of what happens when millions of people are out of options,” sums up Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley. “In the past, most people in Canada could absorb a small financial setback — a car repair, a family illness, a modest increase in food prices at the grocery store. Those days are over. Canada’s bleak new reality is that millions of people are making impossible trade-offs every day as they choose between food or rent.”

Canada’s 2026 HungerCount

• Nearly 1-in-5 food bank clients (18%) are employed, compared to just over 1-in-10 (12.2%) in 2019.
• One-third (32.5%) of food bank clients are children — representing nearly 776,000 monthly visits in 2026.
• 72% of food bank clients live in market rent housing — and people with the lowest incomes spend on average 60% of their disposable income on housing alone.
• Since 2021, food prices have increased by approximately 30%, housing costs by 28% and transportation costs by nearly 24%.

“This does not have to be Canada’s story,” urges Beardsley, who encourages bold action on the critical policy recommendations outlined in this year’s report. “To truly build a Canada where we take care of each other, the federal government must move swiftly to modernize EI, double the Canada Workers Benefit and invest in critical infrastructure to improve food access and support a more affordable and resilient future.”

Food Banks Canada 2026 HungerCount Policy Recommendation Highlights:
Decades of inadequate government action have resulted in an impossible situation where food banks have become part of Canada’s social safety net. In its 2026 HungerCount report, Food Banks Canada calls on governments to make focused commitments to support the long-term economic well-being of people in Canada, while simultaneously investing in a resilient food infrastructure.

• Permanently modernize Employment Insurance (EI) for a modern workforce
  • Protect access to EI across life events and for those who exhaust benefits without securing employment.
  • Include non-standard workers through addressing worker misclassification and the creation of a clear contribution-based pathway for self-employed and gig workers.
  • Review eligibility thresholds to better capture part-time, seasonal, and irregular work partners.
• Double the Canada Workers benefit
• • Double the maximum benefit amount for individuals and families.
  • Raise the income eligibility threshold to at least the poverty line.
  • Index both the benefit payment and the eligibility threshold to the rate of inflation.
• Remove barriers to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
• • Create a centralized, dignified, and rights-based disability status determination process outside the tax system.
  • Automatically extend federal disability certification to people already receiving provincial or territorial disability assistance.
  • Use the definition of disability, as defined in the Accessible Canada Act, as the starting point for all federal disability programs.
• Federal Parliamentary review on the adequacy of social assistance
• • The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities and the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology should undertake a joint parliamentary study on provincial, territorial, and on-reserve income support.
• Invest in critical infrastructure to build a more affordable and resilient Canada
• • Establish a National Housing Accord to renew and expand funding for deeply affordable, supportive, co-operative, non-profit, and public housing.
  • Accelerate construction of housing through federal land, financing, and tax measures.
  • Establish explicit geography tracks within Build Canada Homes to address unique realities in urban and suburban, rural, and remote, Northern, and Indigenous communities.
  • Direct up to $500 million of the Food-Link Fund to strategic food bank network infrastructure to support a more resilient, domestic food network.
• Build a Stronger North by investing in people and communities
• • Close the Northern cost-of-living gap in the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit by including a Northern supplement, expanded eligibility thresholds, geographic adjustments, automatic indexing, and accessible delivery systems.
  • Reform Nutrition North Canada by creating clear affordability targets for subsidized food, strengthening public reporting, broadening eligible foods, and expanding food sovereignty initiatives.

2026 HungerCount Across Canada

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This September, Explorers’ Edge joins the Wiigwaasi Jiimaanke birchbark canoe build in Huntsville and the Unite For Good Gathering in Parry Sound, two community-led initiatives anchoring the region’s ongoing journey with truth and reconciliation.

As Canada marks its National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, Explorers’ Edge (Regional Tourism Organization 12) is standing alongside two community-led Indigenous initiatives taking place across the region this fall: Wiigwaasi Jiimaanke, a traditional Anishinaabe birchbark canoe build in partnership with Hope Arises Project Inc., and the inaugural Unite For Good Gathering in Parry Sound, hosted by the Rotary Revival Club of Parry Sound. Wiigwaasi Jiimaanke is taking place at River Mill Park in downtown Huntsville from September 28 through October 9, 2026, and will culminate in a public birthing and naming ceremony and the ceremonial launch of the completed canoe on the Muskoka River.

Led by Algonquin master canoe builder and Knowledge Keeper Chuck Commanda, supported by an apprentice and assistants, the 10-day project will be free and open to the public, creating an immersive, living classroom in the heart of Huntsville. Visitors and community members will have the opportunity to witness and engage with teachings drawn from the Medicine Wheel, the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Anishinaabe Creation stories, language and ceremony, as well as the concept of “two-eyed seeing,” which brings together Indigenous and western knowledge systems.

As part of the initiative, two special Day Package experiences will be offered October 1 & 2, providing visitors with an opportunity to engage more deeply with the stories, teachings and cultural significance surrounding the canoe build.

The first experience takes participants on a guided journey through the Misko-Aki: Confluence of Cultures exhibition at the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst, exploring the region’s Indigenous history, culture and connection to the land and waterways.

The second experience, hosted at River Mill Park in Huntsville, begins with a drum circle led by Joyce Jonathan Crone, Founder and President of Hope Arises Project Inc., followed by an opportunity to spend time alongside Chuck Commanda as the Wiigwaasi Jiimaan takes shape and to learn more about the traditional knowledge, materials and techniques involved in creating a birchbark canoe by hand.

The Day Package experiences are offered by donation, with advance registration required and limited spaces available. Details and registration are available through the Great Canadian Wilderness:

https://thegreatcanadianwilderness.com/packages/wiigwaasi-jiimaanke-birchbark-canoe-build-2026/

The canoe build also coincides with Huntsville’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation gathering on September 30, organized by Hope Arises Project Inc. The event will include a ceremonial opening with Land Acknowledgement, smudging and drum circle, a commemorative walk-through downtown Huntsville, and a return gathering featuring Indigenous speakers, cultural performances and the distribution of orange ribbons.

That same evening in Parry Sound, the Rotary Revival Club of Parry Sound will host the inaugural Unite For Good Gathering at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts and Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. The gathering will bring together Anishinaabek Knowledge Sharing, oral storytelling, cultural teachings, song, dance and drumming,  presented through an Indigenous lens by knowledge carriers Chief Warren Tabobondung, Chief Adam Pawis of Shawanaga First Nation, and Chief Dean Sayers. Explorers’ Edge is a partner of the event, joining Rotary District 7010, the Wilder Institute and the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce; proceeds support youth programming across West Parry Sound and Muskoka, including Georgian Bay 7Gens Swimming, Indigenous youth singing, dance and drumming opportunities, and the Rosseau Lake College Seven Generations Program.

“Reconciliation is a shared responsibility carried by individual Canadians. It begins with meaningful action and an honest willingness to better understand Canada’s history while rebuilding respectful relationships rooted in renewed trust, peaceful coexistence, sensitivity, healing and learning. Truth and Reconciliation calls upon genuine friends of Indigenous Peoples’ to stand together, unite in recognition of Indigenous sovereignty, inherent rights and the Treaties signed long before Canada became a country, creating a stronger, more respectful future for all Canadian’s, inclusive of all peoples’ and for those yet to walk upon Mother Earth.” said the Chairman of the Rotary Revival Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Tim Clayden.

“This is not a one-time commitment. This is a relationship we are building with intention and care, and it’s one we’re showing up for across the whole region,” said James Murphy, CEO of Explorers’ Edge. “The Wiigwaasi Jiimaan is more than a canoe. It is a teacher. Our team will be at River Mill Park for the build and at the Unite For Good Gathering in Parry Sound,  both are part of the same journey. We are honoured to stand alongside Hope Arises Project Inc., the Rotary Revival Club of Parry Sound, and the broader Indigenous community in supporting this work, and we are here to learn.”

“Truth and Reconciliation is not a moment but a movement”, said Joyce Jonathan Crone, Hope Arises Project Inc. A reclamation of identity, culture and ways of being, knowing and doing. We all have a part to play as we join hands to heal for our future generations.”

The Birchbark Canoe Project will use locally sourced materials wherever possible, including White Birch bark from the Explorers’ Edge region. Upon completion, the canoe will serve as a lasting educational legacy and cultural artifact for the Huntsville community and for visitors from across Ontario and beyond.

For Explorers’ Edge, these partnerships reflect an organizational commitment to Truth and Reconciliation that goes beyond a single day or a single event. As the Regional Tourism Organization for Muskoka, Parry Sound, Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Algonquin and South Algonquin, territories with deep Indigenous roots, Explorers’ Edge is working to ensure that tourism in this region celebrates authentic Indigenous-led storytelling, builds genuine community relationships, and creates experiences that carry real meaning for visitors and residents alike.

ABOUT THE WIIGWAASI JIIMAANKE DAY PACKAGE:

Explorers’ Edge, through The Great Canadian Wilderness, is offering a limited two-day learning experience on October 1 and 2, 2026, connected to the Wiigwaasi Jiimaanke birchbark canoe build. The experience includes a guided visit to the Misko-Aki: Confluence of Cultures exhibition at the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst, followed by a drum circle with Hope Arises Project Inc. founder Joyce Jonathan Crone and time alongside master canoe builder Chuck Commanda at River Mill Park in Huntsville. Space is limited to 15 participants, advance registration is required, and the experience is offered by donation.

Details and registration: https://thegreatcanadianwilderness.com/packages/wiigwaasi-jiimaanke-birchbark-canoe-build-2026/

ABOUT HOPE ARISES PROJECT INC.:

Working alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, Hope Arises Project Inc. fosters cultural understanding, builds meaningful reciprocal relationships, and promotes healing through Indigenous-led education, dialogue, and collaboration. Our work creates space for mutual respect and shared responsibility across generations while centering Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and ways of being.

https://www.hopearises.ca/

ABOUT UNITE FOR GOOD GATHERING:

The Unite For Good Gathering is an initiative of the Rotary Revival Club of Parry Sound, presented in partnership with Rotary District 7010.

https://uniteforgood.ca/

ABOUT EXPLORERS’ EDGE:

Explorers’ Edge is Ontario Regional Tourism Organization 12 and supports destination development and tourism growth across The Great Canadian Wilderness, including Muskoka, West Parry Sound, the Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, South Algonquin and Algonquin Park. Through its TICO-licensed travel service, the organization is developing new approaches to connecting transportation, accommodations and visitor experiences.

www.explorersedge.ca

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Nearly half of small exporters (46%) and a similar share of small importers (49%) have products directly hit by the latest round of tariffs and counter-tariffs. Manufacturing, wholesale, retail and construction are among the most affected sectors.

“We cannot allow small business owners to become cannon fodder in the trade war. If we’re going to retaliate, then we need to make sure government supports protect the small businesses being put on the front lines of the trade war,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president. “While a majority small firms are generally supportive of the decision to walk away from trade talks and impose counter-tariffs, the burden falls especially heavily on some segments of Canada’s independent business community. Nine in ten small firms believe counter-tariff revenue should be used to support the businesses hit hard by the trade war.”

“Government support programs to date are not set up to deal with tens of thousands of small businesses, particularly as counter-tariffs begin to hit next week,” Kelly added. “We need a simple direct support program to help businesses on the U.S. and Canadian tariff lists in addition to broad-based tax relief to help all small firms that will be hurt by the trade war.”

CFIB is proposing three important measures:

• A dedicated Small Business Tariff Relief (SBTR) program, where impacted exporters and importers who can provide direct evidence they paid the tariffs directly, or adjusted prices to absorb part or all of the tariff, would be eligible to receive initial tariff relief up to $70,000 CAD.
• An SME Desk for Tariff Remissions to speed up decisions on eliminating Canadian retaliatory tariffs if there are major negative impacts on the industry or if alternatives to the U.S. product are not readily available.
• Immediate tax relief for all small businesses in the form of a Small Business Corporate Tax Rate cut from 9% to 6%, retroactive to January 1, 2026, and an increase to the Small Business Deduction threshold from $500,000 to $700,000 with future indexation to inflation.

“Small businesses are being squeezed from multiple directions, and both the new tariffs and counter-tariffs will add a significant burden at a time when we’re already grappling with weak economic growth, sluggish consumer demand and some of the highest operating costs we have ever seen,” said Jasmin Guénette, CFIB vice-president of national affairs. “We’re talking about people who are being asked to put their entire livelihoods on the line so that Canada can push back. The government needs to move with urgency and get relief measures in place as they continue to work towards a stable, long-lasting trade deal.”

Methodology

Preliminary results for the Impact of the U.S.-Canada Trade War 2026 survey. The survey is active since August 28, number of respondents = 1,545. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of +/-2.49%, 19 times out of 20.

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“This new $20 bank note is striking, symbolic and secure,” said Governor Macklem. “The note’s advanced and dynamic security features are combined with images that reflect Canada’s beauty and its history. I hope it evokes pride in Canada and confidence in its bank notes.”

The portrait of his Majesty is surrounded by a floral and leafy tapestry inspired by the King’s lifetime dedication to the environment. The back of the note retains the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France as a tribute to Canada’s contributions and sacrifices in military conflicts throughout its history.

Provincial and territorial floral emblems representing the 13 provinces and territories appear on the front of the note. A circular window, visible from both sides of the note, features plants that are culturally significant to Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The Bank’s Indigenous Advisory Circle collaborated on creating the design of this window.

This is the second bank note in the Vertical series. The first, the $10 note, features civil rights pioneer and businesswoman Viola Desmond.

The Bank also consulted with Canadians, government partners and a range of stakeholders including accessibility groups and organizations connected to the memorial at Vimy Ridge. Their input was instrumental in the development of the new $20 note.

Bank note security is integral to Canada’s currency and to the confidence of consumers and businesses that rely on cash. The new $20 note has security features never before used on Canadian currency that are easy to check and hard to counterfeit. The purple security stripe includes elements that spin, transform and pulse when the note is moved. Features like these will help the Bank maintain its technical advantage over counterfeiters and enable Canadians to easily authenticate $20 bank notes, the denomination they use most often. This ensures Canadians can use the new $20 note with confidence.

“The new $20 note reflects important parts of who we are as Canadians, honouring our Commonwealth roots and our ties with international allies,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue. “It honours our constitutional traditions through the portrait of His Majesty King Charles III and recognizes the service and sacrifice of Canadians through the Vimy Memorial, a symbol that continues to resonate across generations.”

“The new $20 bank note tells a distinctly Canadian story—one shaped by our natural beauty, our rich history and the enduring partnerships we have built around the world,” said Secretary of State Long. “It is a symbol Canadians can carry with pride.”

Before issuing the new note, the Bank will raise awareness among the public and other stakeholders. When introducing new notes, the Bank works closely with financial institutions, equipment manufacturers and the cash-handling industry to help ease the transition. This includes encouraging businesses that use bank note handling and processing equipment to contact their suppliers about any necessary machine adaptations. Retailers, law enforcement agencies and others will also be informed about the note’s design and security features, helping to maintain Canadians’ trust in their bank notes.

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The US, and to a lesser extent Mexico, may have attracted most of the headlines, but Canada hosting the world’s biggest and most prestigious soccer tournament is transformative, pushing the sport forward like the 1994 World Cup did for the US. Soccer was by no means unknown in Canada before this summer, but things could really change now.

There will be more coverage of the domestic game, as well as the international teams, more Canadian players being touted for big-money moves to the elite leagues of Europe, and, yes, more coverage of soccer in all the best Canadian sportsbooks. MyTopSportsbooks is the place to find out about those sites, but this cannot be just a momentary spike in interest. The World Cup happening right here in Canada should be the start of something incredible for Canadian soccer.

World Cup Achievement

Canada had qualified for a World Cup finals before and even played in the last edition in 2022. But the 2026 World being played on home soil was different, and the squad recorded a number of firsts that can be built on over the coming years. A first-ever point was won in the opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then there was the first-ever win with the thrashing of Qatar.

The loss to Switzerland was a blow, as it meant that Les Rouges would not play in Canada again. But they showed their talent in Los Angeles when they won a first-ever World Cup knockout game against South Africa. These are the types of achievements that could have created Canadian soccer fans for life.

Recent Times in Canadian Soccer

Although Canada qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, there was no ongoing benefit or national transformation. The three defeats came and went, and the team was lowly ranked when FIFA first set up their system around the time of the 1994 World Cup. Things got even worse throughout the 2000s, with the team falling as low as 122^nd in the world at one point.

Poor performances, and the resulting drop in world rankings, was matched by the dysfunction of those governing the sport in Canada at the time. It has only been in the last decade or so that the team has improved, as well as the way the game is run in this country. Now, all aspects of Canadian soccer seem to be working together.

The National Teams Lead the Way

Domestic clubs are the lifeblood of soccer, but in a country where hockey will always be number one (even though soccer is the most participated-in sport), the performance of the national teams is all-important. The women’s team has won Olympic gold and is currently ranked ninth in the world, so it has been the men who have had some catching up to do.

The last four years have been the most impressive in Canadian men’s soccer history. Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup was massive, but there was also regional success, where the team reached the semifinals of the 2021 Gold Cup. Now the target must be winning the CONCACAF title and qualifying, once again, for the World Cup. Success at a national level will bring even more fans and investment to the sport.

CPL and NSL

When it comes to domestic soccer teams, most of the attention goes to those competing in Major League Soccer. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver (for now) are the best teams in the country, and like the Canadian teams in other North American major leagues, they will attract the most fans.

But the launch of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) in 2019 is one of the most important things to happen to soccer in this country for a long time. Developing a purely national league is the best way to produce the stars of tomorrow and inspire children across Canada. Almost 90% of players at this year’s World Cup semifinals debuted in their home countries, and that is where the foundations for success are built.

The way the CPL and the Northern Super League (NSL) were so visible during this year’s World Cup is a good sign of how much bigger they can get in the years ahead. The NSL is the top-tier women’s soccer league in Canada and was launched only last year. But news of an expansion team for 2027 and higher visibility is a real positive for the sport here.

Develop the Culture and the Infrastructure

Although Canada may have more work to do than either of its co-hosts when it comes to soccer culture and support, it is not as if the country is starting from scratch. What is needed is that the soccer culture and infrastructure already present across the nation be developed and improved.

Further investment and coverage are needed now, off the back of a successful World Cup, to grow soccer yet further in Canada. More people tuned in to watch Les Rouges play Morocco than watched the opening game of the NHL season last year, so the demand is obviously there.

Now, those in charge of the game in Canada must capitalize on the goodwill and support that has grown in the last two months thanks to the World Cup. Hockey might always be most people’s go-to sport here, but the sky is the limit for soccer.

The post What The World Cup Could Do For Canadian Soccer appeared first on Muskoka411.

Recognized as one of the premier events in watersports, the Masters annually brings together many of the top waterski and wakeboard athletes from around the world. Since its inception in 1959, the tournament has become a longstanding tradition held each Memorial Day weekend at the iconic Robin Lake venue.

Canada will be represented by 10 athletes competing across both the Masters and Junior Masters divisions.

Representing Canada in the 33rd Junior Masters Tournament is Enzo Kristian (Saskatoon, SK), who will compete in Junior Men’s Jump. This will mark Kristian’s first time skiing on Robin Lake.

In the professional Masters divisions, Charlie Ross and Cole McCormick, both with ties to Ontario, will compete in Men’s Slalom. Jaimee Bull (North Bay, ON) and Neilly Ross, who also has ties to Ontario, will represent Canada in Women’s Slalom.

Dorien Llewellyn, who has ties to Innisfail, Alberta, will compete in both Men’s Trick and Men’s Jump, alongside Ryan Dodd (Olds, AB) in Men’s Jump.

Canada will also be represented in Women’s Trick by Hannah Stopnicki (Montreal, QC), Neilly Ross, and Paige Pigozzi, who has ties to Ontario. This will be Stopnicki’s first appearance competing in the Open division at the Masters after previously winning multiple Junior Women’s Trick titles at the Junior Masters.

Kate Pinsonneault (Penticton, BC) will make her first appearance competing in the Open division at the Masters in Women’s Jump.

An invitation to compete at the Masters is considered one of the sport’s highest honours, with qualification reserved for athletes performing at the top of their disciplines. The tournament is sanctioned by the International Waterski & Wake Federation (IWWF), USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, and the World Wake Association (WWA).

Robin Lake at Callaway Gardens features covered stadium seating, a judges’ tower, media facilities, and beachside viewing areas, creating one of the most recognized venues in watersports. The event attracts thousands of spectators annually and receives extensive media coverage throughout North America and internationally.

Competition begins tomorrow, May 22, and continues through May 24, 2026.

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Tim Hortons is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of Timbits back in 1976 with a special limited-edition 50-pack Timbits box that will start rolling out to restaurants across Canada in the days ahead.

“Fifty years ago, a little bite-sized donut started something much bigger than anyone could have imagined. From being passed around the car during a road trip, to being shared in the stands at the hockey rink, or on the field after a fun soccer game, Timbits became a treat that Canadians enjoyed together during special moments with family and friends,” said Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons.

“Having Timbits at the heart of special moments is something we’re incredibly proud of and we look forward to carrying forward the tradition for the next 50 years.”

While Timbits have been around for half a century, they continue to be incredibly popular – in fact, more Timbits were sold across Canada in 2025 compared to any other year on record! The most popular classic Timbits flavour in Canada last year – and for several years running – was the Chocolate Glazed.

Over the course of 2025, Tims released two new flavours of Filled Timbits: Blueberry Cheesecake and Crème Brulée. Stay tuned for exciting news about more new Timbits flavours coming to a Tims near you later this year!

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Every day, CBSA officers play a crucial role protecting communities. In 2025, the CBSA welcomed over 82 million travellers, intercepted over 83,200 kg of illegal drugs from entering our communities and kept more than 17,700 weapons and firearms off our streets.

As you prepare for your travels, knowing what you need to enter Canada will help ensure a smoother border crossing experience while also giving CBSA officers more time to focus on stopping dangerous goods and inadmissible people.

Here are some travel tips to help you plan for your trip:

• Have your travel documents readily available to present to an officer. This will speed up processing times at the border.
• Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada (at participating airports.)
• Driving into Canada? Check border wait times to plan your route.
  • Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
  • The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
  • Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
  • Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official Directory of CBSA Offices and Services.
  • If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
• When travelling with children who are not your own or for whom you don’t have legal custody, bring a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. CBSA is always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
• Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it  across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
• Smuggling drugs is illegal. Trafficking cannabis and other drugs across the border is a criminal offence. Beware of people who ask you to carry anything for them. Consequences are serious in Canada and abroad.
• Leave your firearms and weapons at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms.
• Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
  • Goods purchased abroad: If you are a resident of Canada, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods, including alcohol and tobacco (up to a certain value), back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes. Make sure you know the value of goods you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts available for the officer.
  • Avoid importing raw poultry products or by-products: Be sure to review current restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing these products across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.
• Know before you go: Review the restricted and prohibited goods to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.

CBSA encourages you to read and follow all of their travel tips before arriving at the border.

Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, you can call them at 1-800-461-9999.

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FCAC will oversee industry compliance with the new NSF fee requirements, which include the following consumer protections:

• consumers cannot be charged more than $10 in NSF fees when they do not have enough money in their personal deposit account to cover a payment
• consumers will not be charged an NSF fee more than once in a period of 2 business days for the same personal deposit account
• consumers will not be charged NSF fees on a personal deposit account when the amount of their overdraft on that account is less than $10

FCAC has information for consumers on Canada.ca explaining their rights regarding NSF fees.

“Even if someone is just $5 short when paying a bill or covering a cheque, they can be hit with a non-sufficient funds fee as high as $50. That’s money that could otherwise go toward groceries, medicine, or other everyday essentials. And this isn’t uncommon–more than one in three Canadians are affected by these fees. By capping NSF fees at $10 and strengthening consumer protections, we’re helping Canadians keep more of their hard-earned money while making everyday banking fairer and more affordable.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

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The nationwide study reports that three in four Canadians (75 percent) are concerned tariffs will push vehicle prices higher in 2026. As a result, nearly one in three Canadians says they are less likely to purchase a vehicle due to the threat of tariffs. Since 2024, the share of Canadians planning to purchase a vehicle within the next three years has dropped by 15 percent, at a time when car ownership is already straining household budgets.

Trade tensions are also shaping purchasing preferences. Seven in ten Canadians (70 percent) say they would not buy an American-made vehicle until Canada-U.S. relations improve.

Other notable national findings from the study include:

Young Canadians are being priced out of ownership

While the percentage of Canadians across all age groups who own a car remains flat at 85 percent, the study shows a widening generational divide. Younger Canadians are facing the highest costs and showing the greatest resistance to traditional ownership.

• Gen Z drivers report the highest annual car expenses of any generation, averaging $5,820 per year
• 36 percent of Gen Z Canadians do not own a vehicle, compared to 15 percent across all age groups
• 9 percent decline in car owners aged 25 to 34 between 2025 and 2026

“Car ownership doesn’t make sense anymore,” says William Foran, a 25-year-old Toronto resident who does not own a car. “When you add up insurance, gas and payments, it feels like a mortgage. I’d rather just rent when I want to have a vehicle for a bit.”

Canadians are driving less to cope with rising costs

Despite average car ownership costs decreasing 9 percent to $4,999 per year, affordability pressures remain high for many Canadians. More than three in four Canadians (77 percent) say their monthly car expenses are more than they can afford, up 10 percent from last year.

As a result, more than half of Canadians (56 percent) report changing how they use their vehicles to cut costs:

• 32 percent say they are driving less to reduce expenses
• Canadians are expected to drive 409 hours in 2026, down from 414 hours in 2025
• The average Canadian vehicle now sits parked for 22.6 hours a day, unused nearly 95 percent of the time.

Long-term rentals are gaining traction

As frustrations with the cost of ownership grow, Canadians are increasingly questioning whether owning a car is the only way to access one. Long-term rentals are emerging as a flexible alternative for cost-conscious drivers who want access to a vehicle without a lengthy financial commitment.

• 54 percent of Canadians say they would prefer to save money by using a car only when needed rather than owning or leasing one
• 41 percent say they would consider renting a vehicle for an extended period, and nearly one in ten plan to do so within the next 12 months
• 42 percent cite the appeal of long-term rentals as avoiding the lengthy commitment of a traditional lease

“Uncertainty in the economy is forcing Canadians to rethink what it really means to ‘own’ a car,” said Bassem El-Rahimy, Head of Turo Canada. “From tariffs to cost-of-living pressures, flexibility matters more than ever for Canadians. We’re seeing growing interest from people navigating job changes and evolving life phases who want access to a vehicle without the financial strain or long-term commitment that comes with ownership.”

That interest is increasingly translating into real demand. Over the past 12 months, Turo has seen a 100 percent increase in long-term car rental bookings in Canada, based on thousands of trips lasting longer than a month.

The survey was hosted on the Angus Reid Forum for Turo and conducted among a representative sample of 1,509 English and/or French-speaking Canadians aged 25 or older.

Read the State of Car Ownership in Canada ’26 Study.

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