AGP Executive Report

Canada Investment Summit Watch: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Toronto summit is pitching a “supercycle” of foreign capital for manufacturing, mining, energy and infrastructure, with Ottawa touting 160+ projects and about US$620B in potential capex. Agri-Food Funding: Ottawa is rolling out a $1B Agri-Food Project Finance Fund via Farm Credit Canada to help firms expand domestic processing and cut logistics costs. Small Business Pressure from Trade: A new report highlights how U.S. tariffs and bans are hitting Canadian micro and small businesses, with one Halifax maker saying U.S. sales have effectively stalled. Local Startup Reality Check: Regina entrepreneur Michele Romanow tells founders at Startup Summit 2026 that building a business is “extraordinarily messy” and success means getting scrappy, not over-planning. Corporate Moves: Questor Technology says its CFO and corporate secretary has resigned, with board audit oversight during a search. Capital Markets: Primaris REIT announces a ~$200M bought deal equity offering. Tech/Health Partnerships: NurExone and NanoPass plan to evaluate integrating NanoPass’s MicronJet delivery platform with NurExone exosome therapies for eye and skin uses.

Trade & jobs pressure: A CFIB-linked report says escalating U.S. tariffs and product bans put tens of thousands of Canadian small businesses at risk, as cross-border costs squeeze operators. Manufacturing exodus: Montreal’s Aeris Protective Packaging is opening a U.S. plant after tariffs hit its business model, a sign more SMEs may follow if trade crossfire continues. AI for SMEs: A Zensurance Small Business Confidence Index finds most Canadian small businesses still aren’t seeing real AI impact—only a small share report productivity gains or cost savings. Big finance for growth: TD announced a five-year, $150B commitment to accelerate lending and investment in critical sectors, including digital and AI. Local business ecosystem: Regina’s Startup Summit heard Clearco co-founder Michele Romanow say building a business is “extraordinarily messy,” pushing founders to start, adapt and learn from failure. Health & fitness entrepreneurship: JACFIT relaunched its women-focused coaching platform with RN-informed training and nutrition. Mining watch: Blue Jay Gold reported strong early drill results at its Yukon Steller Gold Project.

Trade & Consumer Choice: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pushing Ottawa to pass Bill C-262 so Canada Post can deliver alcohol across provincial borders, arguing it would expand choice and help businesses as the U.S. tightens alcohol imports amid trade retaliation. SMB Fraud Risk: A TD Direct Investing customer alleges scammers liquidated more than $230,000 and then bought an obscure Hong Kong stock, echoing another Alberta investor’s complaint about similar fraudulent trades. Canada-EU Mobility Talk: Prime Minister Mark Carney is reportedly exploring an EU “associate member” model, including visa-free work and residency for Canadians, as Canada seeks diversification beyond U.S. trade. Local Business & Community: A Kelowna Chamber ex-president is hosting a non-partisan women’s civic election education event to boost participation in the municipal race. Entrepreneurship & Cross-Border Links: The Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council says it’s renewing efforts to deepen trade and investment ties, pointing to opportunities in exports, tech partnerships, tourism, and education. Tech & AI Debate: Elon Musk and other AI leaders are reacting to calls to slow AI development, while Trump downplays risks—an ongoing distraction for small firms trying to plan responsibly.

Trade-war consumer backlash: Canadians are increasingly “disentangling” from the U.S. as Trump’s rhetoric and tariff moves spill into everyday buying and travel, with one Toronto-area shopper even cancelling U.S.-made staples like Bob’s Red Mill pancake mix. SME risk from tariffs: A separate report flags how new U.S. import bans and Canada’s retaliatory steps are hitting small firms—especially food and ingredient-heavy businesses—by forcing them to re-check tariff lists and scramble for replacements. Tourism and local business: New York kicked off its fall foliage push with weekly I LOVE NY reports, a reminder that seasonal tourism planning can directly support local shops and services. Saskatchewan auto insurance: SGI is moving ahead with a 3.75% Auto Fund rate increase for 2027, citing claim costs and inflation—cost pressure that matters for small fleets and drivers. Immigration pathways for workers: B.C. invited 429 candidates through its Provincial Nominee Program for care and construction trades, offering a clearer route to permanent residence for employers needing skilled labour. Local crime impacts: A Sault Ste. Marie-area man was sentenced to five years for a string of break-ins targeting multiple small businesses, including eateries and retail. Small-business community tech access: Nova Scotia libraries kept the C@P public internet training service alive by adapting it over decades, helping residents who can’t access connectivity at home.

Trade War Pressure on SMEs: Ottawa moved to counter Trump’s latest trade blow with countertariffs on about $28B of U.S. goods, while Washington expanded bans on Canadian products (including alcohol and some dairy) and set new tariff timelines—raising fresh risk for tens of thousands of Canadian small businesses. Insurance Undercoverage in Quebec: Qubit Insurance says 38% of reviewed Quebec home policies may be underinsured versus current rebuild costs, potentially cutting payouts via co-insurance clauses as construction costs keep climbing. Auto Insurance Costs in Saskatchewan: SGI approved a 3.75% Auto Fund rate increase for June 1, 2027, with the average annual impact pegged around $39 as claim costs and inflation strain the fund. Export Support for Entrepreneurs: World Trade Center Georgetown will host an Oct. 22 workshop to help exporters and entrepreneurs use market research to plan and compete internationally. Local Business Security: A Sault Ste. Marie-area break-in spree targeting multiple eateries and shops ended with a five-year jail sentence for the offender. Tourism Demand Watch: Barbados’ hotel and tourism group reports stronger first-half 2026 arrivals from Canada (+13.7%) and Europe (+20.1%), signaling continued travel momentum. Tech & Growth Capital: Mecka AI is reportedly nearing a new Sequoia-led round at about a $500M valuation, reflecting the ongoing rush for robot training data.

Canada–U.S. Trade War: Ottawa matched Trump’s latest moves with countertariffs on about $28B of U.S. goods, while Trump issued new orders banning some Canadian imports (including alcohol) and expanding tariffs, with many changes set to land Sept. 29—raising fresh pressure on Canadian small businesses already bracing for higher costs and uncertainty. Tech & Investment: RBC launched a $1.4B fund to back Canadian tech builders, while Mecka AI is reportedly nearing a new Sequoia-led round at about a $500M valuation as demand for robot training data heats up. Immigration & Hiring: B.C. selected 424 workers through its Provincial Nominee Program for healthcare, construction trades and early childhood roles, signaling continued labour demand in sectors that small employers rely on. Energy & Growth: Ukraine says its energy needs are at least $91B over the next decade and is pitching Canadian firms on investment opportunities as it streamlines approvals and ramps up tenders. Insurance Warning: Quebec brokerage Qubit says 38% of reviewed new home policies may be underinsured versus current rebuild costs, potentially triggering reduced payouts under co-insurance clauses. Prairies Support: Brandon manufacturer Atom-Jet received $1M from the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to expand equipment and in-house production.

Trade War Pressure on SMBs: Canada’s dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs (15/25/50%) are now in force after the U.S. escalated with new charges and bans, putting tens of thousands of Canadian small businesses at risk, with CFIB warning of real fallout for owners already squeezed by costs and uncertainty. Saskatchewan Investment Push: Premier Scott Moe is taking Saskatchewan’s pitch to the Canada Investment Summit, spotlighting energy, critical minerals, defence and agriculture, plus an Invest in Saskatchewan forum focused on nuclear and uranium. Agtech Growth in the Prairies: Saskatchewan’s AGTECH ACCELERATOR renews support for an agtech push that brings UK-based companies into the province through Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme. Alberta Data-Centre Gas Plan: A leaked cabinet report suggests Alberta is weighing public control of its natural gas pipeline system to guarantee supply for data centres—potentially raising costs for residents. Tech & Regulation: The FCC moved to conditionally clear ASUS routers after a U.S. DoD national-security review, while a separate FCC proposal to restrict many consumer drones drew overwhelming public opposition (98.6%). Hospitality Deal: Quebec’s Château Montebello is set to change hands after a court approved its sale to Westmont Hospitality Group following bankruptcy and debt issues. Labour Organizing: Hamilton Starbucks workers voted to join the United Steelworkers, citing safety, scheduling and wage/benefits concerns.

Trade War Pressure on SMEs: CFIB says 53,112 Canadian businesses are directly hit by U.S. tariffs, Canadian counter-tariffs, or both, with 45,414 importers and 13,160 exporters—while it argues current relief programs still miss about half of small firms. New Import Bans: The U.S. moves to ban more Canadian goods (including dairy and alcohol) as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on about $20B of U.S. imports take effect, raising costs and uncertainty for cross-border operators. Alberta Tariff Response Focus: Alberta creates a new provincial tariff cabinet committee to track impacts on families and small businesses and review whether supports are reaching those under pressure. AI Data Centre Fuel Debate: A leaked Alberta cabinet report suggests rewriting rules and even creating a Crown corporation to push natural gas pipeline expansion to power AI data centres—sparking questions for local business and infrastructure planning. Canada Business Growth Moves: Celestica reshuffles leadership for growth; Draganfly lands a five-year Canadian Armed Forces contract for low-cost tactical ISR drones; Atradius Surety enters Canada to support construction and real estate surety needs. Local Community & Safety: MADD Canada unveils new roadside memorial signs in Fort Saskatchewan and Waterloo for victims of impaired driving. Entrepreneurship Spotlight: Post Bridge hits record signups after being listed inside ChatGPT, showing how small Canadian SaaS can scale fast.

Trade War Fallout: CFIB estimates 53,112 Canadian businesses are directly hit by U.S. tariffs, Canadian counter-tariffs, or both—13,160 exporters and 45,414 importers—while it argues Ontario’s and Ottawa’s tariff supports still miss about half of small firms; CFIB is pushing a dedicated Small Business Tariff Relief program (up to $70,000) and faster SME tariff remissions decisions. Ontario Policy & Jobs: Premier Doug Ford announced a cabinet shuffle tied to the Skills Development Fund integrity probe, moving David Piccini to Infrastructure and reshuffling labour/training and other portfolios. Ontario Science Centre Cuts: OPSEU/SEFPO says Ford plans to axe 30 roles at the Ontario Science Centre, including eliminating a standalone Science Unit—an 18% cut. Tech & Security: Check Point patched two critical VPN certificate flaws (rated 9.8) affecting its firewall gateways and management server. Business Growth & Capital: NorthX Climate Tech backed five women-led climate hard-tech ventures with $2.5M, aiming to move promising startups toward commercial scale. Leadership & Community: Level5 Strategy launched an inaugural Women in Strategy Advisory Board to expand its women-in-leadership platform across Canada.

Trade War Pressure on Small Business: Multiple reports highlight Trump’s Canada tariffs and new U.S. procurement rules, including orders to remove Canadian goods from federal purchasing lists—raising uncertainty for Canadian exporters and border-area retailers. Local Tech for SMBs: Toronto-based Plooto named Pratik Rathod as Chief Product Officer to push smarter payments automation for accountants and small-to-mid-sized businesses. AI Customer Service: Intermedia launched an AI Receptionist voice agent to handle inbound calls, answer with business-specific knowledge, and hand off to humans with call recaps. Cyber & Safety Ops in Canada: AltaGas expanded its use of ISNetworld to centralize contractor safety training and worker qualification checks for site access. Energy & Defence Procurement: Volatus won a five-year Government of Canada contract for tactical ISR uncrewed aircraft systems, with options up to 5,000 units. SMB Growth via Capital Markets: Prime Dividend renewed its at-the-market equity program through Oct. 9, 2028, enabling share issuance at market prices. Regional Business Ecosystem: Calgary startup Ultimarii is using AI to speed up regulatory and permitting for infrastructure projects.

Energy Approvals: Mark Carney’s government is scaling back the environmental review process for major energy projects, aiming to speed approvals as Canada-U.S. trade tensions intensify. Trade War Pressure: Economists and U.S. lawmakers warn tariffs are already hitting households and small firms, with one study putting Michigan families’ costs at $5,600 since January—mirroring concerns Canadian businesses face as retaliatory measures and U.S. import bans expand. Small Business Support & Policy: RBC is launching a US$1-billion growth fund to help Canadian tech companies scale globally, while Spark Centre rolls out a capital-access program to connect post-revenue startups with investors across Canada and the U.S. Local Resilience: Weyburn City Council approved a Provincial Disaster Assistance Program submission after flooding, and a municipal update clarified property-tax rebate rules for seniors and small businesses. Entrepreneurship Spotlight: A Toronto showcase will open doors to 36 justice-impacted founders launching new businesses at the University of Toronto innovation campus.

Construction Tech Funding: Buildcheck raised a $12M Series A to help construction teams catch drawing errors faster with vision-based AI, aiming to cut costly mistakes in the hardest-to-find place. Small-Business AI Tools: HoneyBook is now available as a ChatGPT plugin, letting independent businesses pull client and invoicing details into natural-language workflows. Housing & Red Tape: RESCON’s pre-budget submission urges Ottawa to permanently cut HST on new homes, reduce development charges, and speed approvals to ease pressure on builders and jobs. Workforce Inclusion: A viewpoint piece argues inclusive hiring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be treated as a workforce strategy, not just a diversity effort. Local Business Support: The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber highlights membership value through advocacy, HR support, insurance, and member savings. Identity & Fraud Risk: Trust Stamp says it’s accelerating onboarding for driver’s licence verification after reports of leaked identity document photos affecting the U.S. and Canada. Hospitality Upgrade: G6 Hospitality launched “G6 Shining” with improved lighting and signage to make motel properties feel safer on arrival.

Canada–U.S. trade war hits small business hard: Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs on about $20B of U.S. goods took effect Tuesday, with duties up to 50% on items like steel, appliances, dairy, paper and electronics—raising costs and squeezing margins for retailers and manufacturers already dealing with uncertainty. Procurement retaliation escalates: The U.S. moved to exclude Canadian-origin products from federal purchasing lists (GSA Multiple Award Schedules), threatening “no reciprocity, no access” unless Canada opens markets for American farmers and small businesses. Local impacts across provinces: Saskatchewan owners say cross-border shipping rules and higher input costs are forcing difficult sourcing and pricing decisions; Smithers-area businesses warn of weaker demand and lost U.S. customers. B.C. business pressure and community response: B.C. Premier David Eby unveiled new border signage telling Americans “NEVER be the 51st state,” while warning jobs and businesses will be hurt on both sides. Vancouver small business disruption: A cannabis warehouse fire in Vancouver, Wash. caused major damage; the owner called it devastating for the small business. Civic politics with a small-business angle: In Vancouver’s mayoral race, William Azaroff pitched easing rules for small businesses like cafes and bike repair shops.

Real Estate Tech Move: KIC Realty is merging with AI firm Brewpilot to build in-house tools for agents and brokerages, with operations across Alberta, B.C. and Ontario. Hospitality Expansion: Cloud5 Communications is acquiring interTouch CALA to extend hotel tech services across Central/South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Local Business & Talent Pipeline: Mitacs and NGen are teaming up for a two-year partnership to fund 60 advanced manufacturing internships and R&D projects nationwide. Trade War Pressure on SMBs: Canada’s counter-tariffs are now in effect on about $28B of U.S. goods, as the U.S.-Canada tariff fight escalates—raising fresh uncertainty for exporters and importers. Aerospace Flashpoint: Bombardier is defending its U.S. footprint after Trump threatened to block sales unless planes are built in the U.S., citing a supply chain of ~2,800 U.S. firms. Franchise Growth Idea: ZenaTech plans a franchise model for drone-as-a-service power washing in Canada, building on a recent U.S. acquisition. Innovation for Defence: Draganfly was selected as a qualified supplier across all five streams in Canada’s Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace. Community Impact Through Payments: Visa Canada and TIFF extended their partnership, citing growth in small business spending in the TIFF zone.

Canada-U.S. Tariff Fight: With a retaliatory-tariff deadline looming, President Donald Trump escalated his pressure on Bombardier, threatening to block U.S. sales unless the company builds in the U.S., while Bombardier says it already has major U.S. operations and supply-chain footprint. Small-Business Impact: Ottawa’s counter-tariffs are set to hit Tuesday on hundreds of U.S. goods, with warnings from business groups that the trade war could push small firms toward closure. Local Business Disruption: A Nanaimo non-profit kitchen in B.C. has issued six-week eviction notices to 17 small businesses sharing the space, putting operators like a pizza shop and catering businesses on a Sept. 30 cliff. Tourism Boost in Ontario: The Quinte region saw midsummer overnight hotel stays jump about 9% year over year, a potential lift for local tourism and small-business operators. Retail/Services Closures: Vancouver’s Artigiano coffee chain shut its Main Street location after more than a decade, underscoring ongoing churn in consumer-facing businesses. EU Arctic Investment: The EU pledged €200m for Greenland, including support for small businesses, as tensions with Trump’s Greenland claims continue.

B.C. Business Pressure: A new BIABC survey says crime and street disorder are hurting B.C. small businesses, with 65% calling public safety a major concern and half saying it’s making hiring harder. Trade-Tariff Fallout: Canadian artists and small makers are reporting major losses as U.S. tariffs and Canada’s counter-tariffs leave work stuck in customs or rejected by American buyers. Construction Skills Push: ICBA and Global eTraining are partnering to bring AI-powered construction software training in-house via ICBA’s learning system, aiming to speed up tech adoption for contractors. Payments & Bookkeeping Growth: Dext appoints Nicole Bello as Chief Revenue Officer as it expands Dext Payments and adds more payroll and QuickBooks Online access, including AI Assist automation. Local Innovation & Safety: UNB researchers unveiled “Marv,” an ATV safety vehicle using real-time sensing and control to reduce off-roading accidents. EU-Arctic Business Support: The EU announced a Greenland investment package that includes support for small businesses and sustainable tourism, amid heightened Arctic tensions.