AGP Executive Report

SME resilience after disaster: Two years after a wildfire damaged Jasper, Tourism Jasper says visitation is back near last year’s levels and spending per visitor is up, but the lost hotel-bed supply still shapes the recovery. Local jobs pressure: Metro Kelowna’s unemployment rate hit 9.3%, with candidates pointing to economic opportunity as a key election issue after Statistics Canada showed job growth alongside a bigger labour-force churn. Small business operations & risk: A bookkeeping-provider shutdown case (Bench) highlights how bundling your financial records with a single vendor can create major continuity risk for small firms. Tech and trade rules for growth: Canadian robotics groups warn U.S. FCC restrictions on foreign-made advanced robots could block access to the biggest market, raising uncertainty for Canadian builders. Business expansion in Canada: Tyros Biopharma added four women’s health products in 2026, signaling continued portfolio growth from its Montreal base. Community business support: The Greater Barrie Chamber launched a Dual-Use Manufacturing Ecosystem to connect local firms for defence and manufacturing opportunities.

Biotech-to-market win: A Montreal teen’s bacteria-based oil-spill cleanup idea is moving from lab breakthrough to commercial production, a reminder that Canadian innovation can scale fast. Tourism recovery: Two years after Jasper’s wildfire, Tourism Jasper says visitation is back to last year’s levels and within 5% of 2023 pre-fire numbers, with higher spending per visitor as hotel-bed supply remains tight. Local jobs pressure: Kelowna’s mayoral race is heating up as Metro Kelowna unemployment hits 9.3%, even as the region added jobs—fueling calls for a stronger city role in economic growth. Cross-border tech risk: Canadian robotics firms warn U.S. FCC restrictions on foreign-made advanced robots could cut them off from their biggest market. Women’s health growth: Tyros Biopharma adds four new women’s health products in 2026, expanding its Montreal-based portfolio. SME finance & rules: The SEC temporarily halts a Nasdaq rule that would require a $5M market-value floor, raising alarms for smaller public companies. Mining jobs boost: An expansion west of Prince George is expected to add about 1,500 local jobs, with plans to keep hiring local and Indigenous.

SME Digital Push: A new BDC study says Canada’s next phase of growth could reach a $350B opportunity if more small and medium-sized businesses move from just buying tech to actually scaling digital and AI maturity—execution is the main gap. Local Defence Supply Chains: Barrie business leaders got a first-hand look at the “evolving” defence landscape at a Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce launch for a dual-use manufacturing ecosystem meant to connect local firms with bigger contracts. Mining Jobs in B.C.: Artemis Gold’s expansion west of Prince George is expected to lift employment from about 900 to around 1,200, with plans to keep hiring locally and maintain Indigenous representation. Capital Markets for Growth: NevGold changed its auditor and applied to continue in B.C.; Westhaven granted incentive stock options; Marksmen announced a non-brokered private placement; and Allied Gold reported voting results at its AGM. Business Climate & Trade: Canada-U.S. talks are reportedly focused on swapping tariff relief for Canadian concessions on issues like autos, alcohol, procurement rules, and dairy quota interpretation. Entrepreneurship Spotlight: A 16-year-old in Toronto launched “Clutter Crushers Toronto” with help from Ontario’s Summer Company Grant.

Canada-Nigeria Air Deal: Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says Canada and Nigeria expanded their air transport agreement, enabling direct flights and more passenger/cargo capacity—good news for travel and trade-minded SMEs. Local Business Climate: Edmonton’s downtown sports bar The Gardens is closing and relocating to Wîhkwêntôwin, blaming a “distinct lack of support” from city leadership—another reminder that downtown foot traffic depends on local execution. SME Growth & Recognition: Brockville’s chamber names Aquatarium, Downtown Brockville BIA, and Fulford Place as tourism finalists ahead of its Awards of Excellence gala, while Southern Alberta’s Consumer Choice Awards list highlights dozens of local service winners. Capital & Expansion Moves: Vireo Growth secured regulatory approval and closed its PharmaCann Colorado retail asset acquisition (17 dispensaries, 56 total locations), and Vireo also lined up a $65M asset-based credit facility. Tech for Builders: Preckon, an AI-native construction intelligence platform co-developed by Canadian and Indian entrepreneurs, launched in Dubai to automate planning, cost estimation, and tender analysis. Small Business Operations: Voksha reports 7 in 10 small business calls are repetitive and automatable (hours, pricing, booking), pointing to lost revenue from missed calls. Food & Retail Openings: Bobby Flay’s first Canadian burger joint is taking shape in Toronto, and Wickertree Furniture moved into the former Pioneer House after a 2018 fire.

Small Business Tech & Productivity: Voksha says 7 in 10 small business calls are repetitive questions about hours, pricing and booking—exactly the kind of work an AI receptionist can handle, freeing owners from 15 hours a week of phone time. Local Security Funding Delays: Winnipeg thrift-store operators say Manitoba’s security rebate is taking 4–6 weeks after eligibility expanded July 16, leaving non-profits stuck paying for costly upgrades like impact-resistant glass. Rural Municipal Cash Boost: Ontario’s rural affairs ministry split $5.8M in unconditional funding between Prince Edward County ($4.2M) and Quinte West ($1.6M), plus small ROD grants for projects from tourism to accessibility. AI Data Centre Debate in Alberta: Meta’s planned AI data centre campus in Sturgeon County is drawing opposition as communities weigh jobs against pressure on power, water and infrastructure. Travel Economy Signal: Airbnb beat revenue estimates on global travel demand and World Cup-driven bookings, with more first-time users trying the platform. Business Finance Watch: VitalHub hit $100M+ in annual recurring revenue and filed for a normal course issuer bid, while VitalHub’s growth story continues through acquisitions.

Long-Term Care Tech Partnership: LTCareNav says it’s adding CarePatrol’s nationwide network of senior care advisors to its planning platform, aiming to connect families with local human guidance when decisions get urgent. Cargo Theft Watch: Verisk CargoNet reports fewer cargo theft incidents in Q2 2026 across the U.S. and Canada, but losses jumped to $304.6M as high-value and fraud schemes kept pressure on shippers. Critical Minerals & Trade: A new analysis argues Canada’s critical minerals strategy needs a bigger shift toward midstream processing and stronger Indo-Pacific partnerships as EU rules and U.S. policy tighten the market. Local Business Recognition: Norfolk County’s Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce opens nominations for the 2026 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards, covering service/retail, agribusiness/industrial, and community categories. Drone-as-a-Service Expansion: ZenaTech completes its acquisition of Idaho’s Benchmark Partners (Galena-Benchmark), expanding its Drone as a Service footprint into Idaho for surveying and infrastructure work. ETF Launch: Purpose Investments lists a new Purpose Structured Equity Yield Fund ETF series (PSY) on the TSX, targeting income with contingent downside protection. Mining Updates: Hi-View reports five chargeability anomalies at its Borealis project in B.C., while Oroco continues copper drilling results at Santo Tomás in Mexico.

Corporate Compliance: ARCpoint says the B.C. Securities Commission issued a failure-to-file cease trade order after it missed the July 29 deadline for audited annual filings, suspending trading in its shares until the order is revoked. Small-Business Finance: North Ledger Bookkeeping released a free 2026 stats report on GST/HST compliance, payroll obligations and cash-flow benchmarks for Canadian small businesses, aiming to help owners manage a tougher compliance load. Local Business & Community: Taste of the Valley returns to Renfrew County with its Aug. 8 kickoff in Barry’s Bay, bringing about 60 vendors of local food, crafts and prepared goods. Fraud Risk for Operators: A Quebec farm says it lost about $20,000 to a catering scam and was later told by Square it had to reimburse losses—highlighting protection gaps for small merchants. Governance & Business Ethics: Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly said he lacks confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling the handling of a proposed private-investor stake “not how you run any business.” Tech/Payments: Shopify’s AI tools and results drove major attention, with the company forecasting revenue above estimates.

Housing & Affordability: Fraser Valley home prices inched down in July, with buyer urgency still “notably absent” as inventory stays high and sales lag seasonal norms. Immigration for SMEs & hiring: Ontario opened its Workforce Priority Stream under the OINP, letting eligible foreign workers submit an EOI (linked to a qualifying job offer) for possible permanent residence. E-commerce & AI for small merchants: Shopify reported a “monster quarter,” with revenue and GMV up strongly and AI tools like Sidekick driving adoption among small- and medium-sized businesses. Business financing: Reflex Advanced plans a C$1.5M private placement of unsecured convertible debentures, while Stack Capital posted Q2 results showing book value growth tied to major AI and infrastructure bets. Climate tech & risk: A climate-tech event in the Pacific Northwest pushed investors toward scalable, profitable essentials (grid, EVs, solar, ag-tech), and Tive said its shipment visibility helped Venture Metals+ prevent $1M+ in cargo theft losses this year. Public safety tech: Volatus and Kraus Hamdani Aerospace partnered to build a Canadian persistent intelligence capability for wildfire response and other missions. Local entrepreneurship: Kingston’s AR platform Augify is helping local tourism and business storytelling come alive. Corporate moves: ATIS acquired elevator consulting firm Buckley Belcher to expand consulting and managed services.

Tax Policy: A new Montreal Economic Institute report argues scrapping Alberta’s provincial capital gains tax could add about $1.1B a year to disposable income and boost investment, entrepreneurship and job creation. Indigenous Business Recognition: Goodfish Lake Business Corporation won the 2026 Indigenous Business of the Year honour from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. Small Business Growth: Moose Jaw entrepreneur Dee Afolayan is expanding DeeBesties Inc. with ready-to-bake Nigerian-style meat pies now in Moose Jaw and Regina co-ops, while preparing to reopen her restaurant downtown. Tech & Deals: Vancouver’s Intellistake Technologies agreed to buy NanoAi Technologies for $17M, adding nanotech and defense/health AI threat-detection capabilities. Immigration Rules for Self-Employed: IRCC says the Self-Employed Persons Program is “no longer fit for purpose,” citing long delays and high refusals, and points to a backlog of about 8,000 applications. Ontario Immigration Update: Ontario opened intake for a new permanent residence pathway via the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Local Business Support: Leeds Grenville’s Greatest Entrepreneur applications are open, offering $10,000 plus coaching and visibility for regional founders. Disaster Impact: St. Catharines, Ont. faces major flooding after a storm, with residents describing sudden, destructive water surges.

AI for Retail Sales: Green Lotus launched an AI team with native Shopify integration aimed at faster lead response and fewer lost sales for online retailers. SMB Marketing Tools: Thryv and Ooma signed a co-marketing deal to help small and medium service businesses reach customers and grow using AI-enabled communications. Local Crime Support for Downtown Shops: Moncton’s Downtown Resilience Program will let eligible downtown businesses claim up to $15,000 a year for repairs and security upgrades tied to property crime. Venue Booking Pain Points: HoneyBook found wedding venue inquiries are split across six channels (email, texts, Instagram DMs, booking apps, marketplace messages, and calls), with no single channel capturing even one-third—pushing operators toward better lead capture and self-serve tools. Big Event, Real Spend: Visa data says FIFA World Cup 2026 matchday spending rose up to 24.6% in Toronto and 12.7% in Vancouver, a reminder of how major events can create short-term demand for local SMEs. Public Funding for Safety Services: Newfoundland and Labrador is set to receive renewed federal support ($700,000 over five years) to strengthen gender-based violence crisis hotline services.

Tariff Pressure on SMEs: Twenty-five U.S. states (including Wisconsin and Washington) sued the Trump administration to block new forced-labour tariffs on 59 countries and the EU, arguing the duties are an unlawful pretext that will raise costs for families and small businesses—Canada is among the targeted trading partners. Canadian Business Fallout: Canadian small-business groups and premiers are urging Ottawa to spell out a response plan as tariff threats risk pushing firms “to the brink,” especially those that can’t easily reroute supply chains. Retail Tech Tensions in Montreal: A Montreal self-serve bakery chain (Mamie Clafoutis) was vandalized again with an “anti-tech” message after switching to self-service, with owners denying facial-recognition use. Canadian Growth Watch: Open Farm is moving toward an IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange at about a $1B valuation (timing shifted to fall 2026 after market volatility). Payments + Embedded Finance: Epos Now expanded its POS into a broader financial operating system with embedded banking, working capital and card issuing—now live in the UK and rolling out in Canada. Startup Funding: UK chip startup Olix raised $312M and is valued around $4.8B as it targets the AI chip market.

Tax Policy: A proposed 1% turnover tax on non-corporate businesses and professionals is sparking debate over whether it’s a fair way to raise revenue or a new squeeze on small, low-margin SMEs. B.C. Cannabis Strategy: A B.C. commentary argues legal craft cannabis is being held back by regulation that treats it like a file, not an economic sector—calling for a coordinated plan to boost retail visibility and reduce illicit-market advantages. Clean Energy Jobs: A new look at Canada’s low-carbon transition warns of a looming workforce shortfall and says equity gaps are part of the problem, urging more support for women and equity-seeking students entering trades and clean-energy roles. Local Community & Small Business: Kingston’s Emancipation Day ceremony highlighted that the fight for equity is “unfinished,” while Ontario’s Niagara region is set for a two-day butter tart festival featuring local vendors. SME Tech & Capital Markets: Vancouver’s SalesCloser Technologies will present at an OTCQB virtual investor conference Aug. 6, and Teck has started consent solicitations tied to multiple U.S. note issues. Workforce & Growth: Canada’s clean-energy labour demand is rising, but the sector’s diversity and training pipeline need attention to keep growth on track.

Air Travel Disruption: Business Council Alberta is urging Ottawa to step in immediately to end a WestJet flight attendants strike, warning it’s already harming families and the broader economy. Immigration for Entrepreneurs: British Columbia invited 10 candidates in its July 28 BCPNP Entrepreneur Immigration draw (Base Stream), with a minimum score of 117. Tech & Innovation Push: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman pledged support for innovators and startups after Bangladesh’s MIST team won the MATE ROV underwater robotics competition in Newfoundland and Labrador. STEM Funding: Surrey student Sarah Ye won a $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to pursue engineering, citing assistive technology for people with disabilities. Retail & Travel Deals: Amex Platinum members can match to Accor ALL Gold status in 12 countries, but Canada is included while the U.S. is not. Business Growth Forecast: MarketsandMarkets projects the ADAS market will jump from $23.57B (2026) to $58.84B by 2033, driven by multi-sensor systems and edge computing. Corporate M&A Watch: Brett Blundy’s BB FIT Investments is buying back Bras N Things and related brands in a $700M deal, after prior ownership changes tied to Gildan and Hanesbrands. Equity & Community: Black Class Action Secretariat is calling for a National Commission on the legacy of slavery and anti-Black racism in Canada.

Immigration for entrepreneurs: British Columbia invited 10 entrepreneurs in its July 28 BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration draw (Base stream), with a minimum score of 117—its eighth entrepreneur round of 2026. More provincial pathways: Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations on July 28 via the NLPNP and Atlantic Immigration Program, including 400 NLPNP and 45 AIP spots. Small-business cost pressure: New Brunswick is raising more than 100 licensing and inspection fees starting Saturday, including electrical, plumbing, elevator and liquor licensing—business groups warn restaurants and other operators could be hit multiple times. Tourism resilience funding: Jamaica’s tourism minister says resilience financing is now essential for tourism-dependent economies, pushing a shift from reaction to anticipation. Urban farming in Canada: A Toronto-focused look at urban farmers highlights benefits for jobs, environment and fresher local food—plus what it takes to make city growing work. Tech and hiring reality check: A Cyprus labour analysis argues the bigger risk isn’t AI replacing jobs, but employers struggling to find enough workers as demographics tighten the market.

Retail & Cost Pressure: New Brunswick is raising licensing and inspection fees for more than 100 services, including electrical, plumbing, elevator and liquor licensing—CFIB warns it could hit family restaurants and other small operators with multiple overlapping costs. Provincial Growth & Hiring: British Columbia issued 10 invitations in its July 28 BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration draw (Base category, minimum score 117), bringing 2026 totals to at least 88 entrepreneur invitations. Local Business Spotlight: Fort St. John honoured business leader Brian Surerus with “Freedom of the City,” recognizing decades of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Workplace Safety: SEIU says WorkSafeBC issued safety orders to Dexterra over SkyTrain cleaning violations across Vancouver’s Expo and Millennium lines. Small Business Climate: Urban farming in Toronto is highlighted as a practical way to create jobs, improve neighbourhood health and strengthen local food systems. Trade & Consumer Choice: CFIB praised Saskatchewan’s low-burden approach to direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping across provincial borders, aiming to help independent craft producers grow. Tech & Operations: Meta’s latest earnings keep investors focused on heavy AI spending, but the company’s ad business is still described as a “cash engine” supporting growth.

Provincial Immigration: Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations under the NLPNP and Atlantic Immigration Program, with 400 through NLPNP and 45 via AIP, using EOI prioritization that can include health and sales/service work, in-province education, and French-language skills. Small-Business Costs: New Brunswick is raising more than 100 licensing and inspection fees starting Saturday, including electrical, plumbing, elevator, liquor licensing, and vehicle-related charges—CFIB warns the stacked increases could hit family restaurants and other operators hard. Local Growth & Community: Winnipeg’s South Osborne Business Improvement Zone is seeing a brewery-led boom, with Nonsuch Brewing, Good Neighbour Brewing, and Dastardly Villain expanding storefronts and eyeing more “synergy” like pub-crawl-style hopping. Workplace Safety: SEIU Local 2 says WorkSafeBC found Dexterra guilty of multiple SkyTrain cleaning violations across Expo and Millennium lines, including training and safety-procedure gaps. Direct-to-Consumer Alcohol: CFIB highlights Saskatchewan’s low-burden approach to cross-province DTC alcohol shipping, praising reduced licensing friction for independent craft producers. Business Deals: Deluxe closed its acquisition of Celero Commerce, aiming to expand payments reach for small and mid-sized merchants.