AGP Executive Report

Trade and Political Uncertainty: A Canadian AI company is turning away from U.S. government work amid trade tensions. Prime Minister Mark Carney also urged national unity as Albertans prepare to vote on whether to begin the process toward a future separation referendum. Local Business Climate: Sault Ste. Marie’s Chamber of Commerce is calling on municipal candidates to make it easier for businesses to invest and grow, with reliable infrastructure, serviced industrial land, efficient approvals and predictable costs. Cost Pressures: More than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their top business threat. SME Support: New climate-readiness guides aim to help small businesses adopt sustainable practices, while provincial funding for Northwestern Ontario’s Innovation Centre will support its Boreal Springboard program. Building Resilience: The CanadianSME Small Business Summit will focus on helping firms build intelligent, resilient and human-centred businesses.

SME Strategy: Toronto’s CanadianSME Small Business Summit on Oct. 13 will focus on turning AI adoption into practical results and building resilient, human-centred businesses. Restaurant Costs: More than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their top business threat, while high diesel costs are adding pressure. Business Support: New provincial funding will support the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre’s Boreal Springboard program, aimed at helping businesses innovate and grow. Sustainability: New climate-ready guides offer small businesses help adopting more sustainable practices. Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians now has a side hustle, according to a new report; the share rises to half among Gen Z.

Northern Ontario Funding: The province is putting $1.5 million into the Boreal Springboard program to help forestry businesses develop and bring products to market, with up to $40,000 in seed funding and support available to participating firms. Restaurant Pressure: More than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their biggest business threat, underscoring the strain on operators as customers pull back. Practical Support: New climate-ready guides aim to help small businesses adopt sustainable practices. Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians—and half of Gen Z—already has a side hustle, while a separate report suggests nearly half of Canadians want to start one.

B.C. Election: Parties are pitching plans on jobs, data centres and royalties, with competing promises to support businesses facing U.S. tariffs. Business Pressures: CFIB warns taxes are holding back small-business expansion, while more than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their biggest threat. Funding and Tools: A new partnership aims to give small businesses faster access to working capital; federal funding is also boosting northern businesses, and climate-ready guides offer practical sustainability advice. Air Canada has launched a self-serve business travel platform for SMEs. Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians—and half of Gen Z—say they have a side business, according to a new survey.

B.C. Election: Parties are pitching competing plans for jobs and business growth, with tax policy and support for firms hit by U.S. tariffs among key issues. Small-Business Costs: CFIB warns taxes are holding back expansion, while more than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their biggest business threat. Trade Pressure: The U.S.-Canada dispute is adding strain for smaller Canadian producers that rely on American buyers. New Ventures: Nearly half of Canadians say they want a side hustle; meanwhile, two young Canadian entrepreneurs are developing an AI tool to preserve mine-safety knowledge. Practical Support: FedNor funding will boost a Northwestern Ontario business program, and new climate-ready guides aim to help small firms adopt sustainable practices.

Mining Innovation: Saskatchewan Polytechnic and SAIT entrepreneurs are developing FieldSync, an AI tool to capture and secure mine-specific safety knowledge, after reaching the finals of a student competition. Trade Pressure: A U.S. ban on nearly $1 billion in Canadian goods is adding strain for smaller producers that depend on American buyers, while trade talks show little progress. Restaurant Outlook: More than one-third of Ontario restaurants say weaker consumer spending is their top business threat; rising food and beverage costs are another major concern. Business Support: B.C. NDP campaign promises include interest-free loans and a new tax credit for businesses. Ottawa’s small-business minister is also set to announce Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund support in Winnipeg on Oct. 13. Side Hustles: A new survey finds nearly one in four Canadians—and half of Gen Z—have a side hustle, signalling a growing path into entrepreneurship.

Trade Pressure: A U.S. ban on nearly $1 billion in Canadian imports is adding strain for smaller producers that depend on cross-border sales, while trade talks remain stalled. Restaurant Costs: More than one-third of Ontario restaurants cite weaker consumer spending as a top threat; rising food and drink costs are another major concern. Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians — and half of Gen Z — now have a side hustle, pointing to a growing path into small business ownership. Growth and Financing: A BDC report says major Canadian projects could generate $443 billion in revenue for SMEs; a new Peloton Technologies partnership also aims to speed small businesses’ access to working capital. Practical Tools: New climate-ready guides offer businesses help adopting sustainable practices, while Air Canada has launched a self-serve travel platform for Canadian SMEs.

Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians earns extra income this way, and another 24% want to start. Ownr’s survey also found many are unsure when a side gig becomes a business with registration and tax obligations. Vancouver Businesses: Shop owners say construction disruptions, rising costs and red tape are hurting sales. One retailer is calling for published work schedules, better coordination and financial help when street access is blocked. Practical Support: Greater Sudbury has updated its climate-ready guides with steps businesses can take to save energy, cut costs and prepare for extreme weather. SME Opportunities: A BDC report says major Canadian projects could generate $443 billion in revenue for small and medium-sized businesses. Air Canada has also launched a self-serve business travel platform aimed at Canadian SMEs.

B.C. Trade Relief: David Eby’s NDP is promising interest-free loans and a new tax credit for businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. Small-Business Finance: Peloton Technologies has partnered with Driven Financial to speed up working-capital access, while Air Canada launched a self-serve business travel platform for Canadian SMEs. Succession: More than three-quarters of small-business owners plan to exit within a decade, but only 9% have a formal succession plan, spotlighting the need to prepare for a major ownership transition. Tax Pressure: CFIB warns that taxes are preventing small businesses from expanding. Side Hustles: Nearly one in four Canadians—and half of Gen Z—now have a side hustle, pointing to a growing pool of potential entrepreneurs.

SME Travel: Air Canada launched Embarq, a self-serve business travel platform for Canadian small and medium-sized firms. Working Capital: Peloton Technologies partnered with Driven Financial to give small-business clients preferred access to financing, adding longer-term funding to Peloton’s payment tools. Entrepreneurship: A new survey found nearly one in four Canadians has a side hustle, often to cover living costs or pay down debt. Costs and Trade: CFIB warned that taxes are holding back small-business expansion, while B.C. Premier David Eby promised interest-free loans for firms hurt by U.S. tariffs. Local Spending: Visa Canada says TIFF spending rose 12% year over year, with small businesses capturing 15% of festival spending. Regional Support: FedNor announced funding to support northern businesses and local development.

B.C. Election: The NDP is promising interest-free loans of up to $1 million for businesses hit by U.S. tariffs or wildfires, plus a $5,000 credit for hiring young workers. Conservatives propose removing PST on machinery, equipment and business software, while the Greens vow simpler approvals for small firms. Growth Barriers: CFIB says just 7% of small businesses plan significant growth or diversification in the next year; 31% are stuck, and 59% of those cite taxes as a barrier. Project Opportunities: A BDC report says Canada’s major-project boom could generate $443 billion in revenue for small and medium-sized businesses. Capital for Canadian Firms: Business leaders are urging Ottawa to defer capital-gains taxes to help companies retain funds for investment and growth.

Local Business Policy: Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Lawson is pledging small-business tax cuts, while Vancouver candidates are pitching property-tax relief, a small-business concierge and more neighbourhood shops. Main Street Pressures: Independent grocers are contending with thin margins, rising energy and labour costs, tariffs and credit-card fees; Canada’s new Grocery Code of Conduct offers a dispute process aimed at fairer, more transparent dealings with suppliers. Growth Opportunities: BDC says Canada’s major-project boom could generate $443 billion in revenue for small and medium-sized businesses, while expanding defence partnerships could help Canadian firms scale. Business Outlook: Nearly four in 10 B.C. small businesses say they’re doing worse than a year ago, and Nova Scotia owners report struggling with tariff pressures.

Municipal Election Watch (B.C./Ontario): Vancouver’s mayoral hopeful Kareem Allam released a detailed 148-point platform ahead of Oct. 17, while Windsor candidates clashed in a CBC debate over homelessness, taxes and jobs. Local Business & Cost Pressure: A Salmon Arm food hub, Zest Food Hub, won a national EDAC award for building a “food processing ecosystem” that gives early-stage entrepreneurs affordable commercial kitchen access. Public Safety & Small Business Impact: B.C. Conservatives unveiled a public safety plan aimed at street disorder and fentanyl, arguing crime is driving customers away and hitting businesses’ bottom lines. Election & Affordability Themes: Pembroke mayoral candidates debated affordability, downtown renewal, public safety and municipal spending. Scam Alert for SMEs: Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market warned vendors about a fake application email that asks for wire transfers. Energy Deal Signals Big Spending: Emera and ATCO/Canadian Utilities agreed to an all-stock merger creating a $72B utility “powerhouse,” a move that could reshape regional infrastructure and procurement. Business Growth/Financing: Terra Clean Energy closed an oversubscribed $2.4M financing to advance its uranium project.

SME Funding Access: Wave teamed with Boundless AI so Canadian small business owners can explore and apply for non-dilutive capital inside Wave in a few clicks, aiming to cut the time and guesswork of finding the right lender. Local Business & Politics: Grey Highlands candidate Katrina Wood, owner of Eco-Refillary, says her small-business experience will help the municipality tackle real pressures while keeping community momentum. Cybersecurity Spend Under Strain: CIRA reports 76% of Canadian organizations boosted cybersecurity budgets, but only 67% think it’s enough; smaller IT budgets are rising, and AI-enabled threats plus Canadian data residency concerns are driving urgency. AI Sales for SMBs: SalesCloser launched Sky, a conversational tool that builds and deploys AI sales agents by talking—cutting setup time from hours to minutes based on early production data. Marketing ROI for SMBs: Cineplex Media and Amplified estimate Canada’s “dull media” costs advertisers $1.52B annually in efficiency losses, reinforcing the value of attention-grabbing channels for small brands. Innovation Gap Debate: A new commentary argues Canada’s commercialization problem is holding back university research from becoming globally competitive companies.

Indigenous Business & Trade: More than 300 Indigenous women entrepreneurs and leaders from 12 countries met in Vancouver for the Indigenous Women in Industry Summit 2026, building new global connections and pushing Indigenous-led economic growth. Municipal Election Focus (B.C. North Shore): Ahead of Oct. 17, North Vancouver and West Vancouver candidates shared priorities on housing, transit, parks and support for small business, with voters weighing affordability and local services. Energy Deal Watch: Cenovus tabled its $5.7B takeover offer for Athabasca Oil, keeping attention on who the next consolidation targets could be in Canada’s oil patch. Small-Business Costs & Policy: Saskatchewan’s NDP is calling for an emergency recall and a suspension of the provincial fuel tax as tariff pressures raise transportation costs. Local Business Growth: Vancouver’s MPI theEVENT hit capacity, and registration opened for EMEC 2027 in Galway—good news for Canadian event professionals. SME Services: Toronto-area bookkeeping and heated driveway firms scored top rankings in local studies, highlighting demand for practical back-office and home-improvement services.

Entrepreneur Banking: Tangerine launched “Tangerine Business,” a new offering for modern entrepreneurs built on its cloud-native core banking tech, rolling out to select customers first. Local Business & Housing: A Fraser Valley real estate update shows buyers staying cautious as September sales slipped and prices softened, a sign of pressure on household budgets. Small Business Finance & Jobs Anxiety: The MNP Consumer Debt Index finds Canadians worry about jobs and income amid labour-market uncertainty and AI, with many turning to a “second-income economy.” Labour Costs Hit Main Street: In Ontario’s Upper Ottawa Valley, a minimum wage increase is expected to raise costs for small employers, with one chamber estimate putting wage impacts for a 10-employee business at about $7,200 before extra payroll costs. Tech for Growth: Harbourfront Centre named Gideon Arthurs CEO as it targets 7M+ visits in 2026, while Altus announced ISO/IEC 42001 AI governance certification for commercial real estate analytics. AI-Native Apps: KissyKat Games brought its ad-free, no-loot-box cat puzzle CLAWDER to Android after the iPhone launch. Food Commerce Deal: Tritent International agreed to acquire AllYourMeals.com, a subscription prepared-meal platform, adding recurring revenue and proprietary digital infrastructure. Franchise Expansion: Dry1Out launched a franchise opportunity for restoration services, including territories in parts of Canada.