AGP Executive Report

Labour Shock for Tourism: WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice after CUPE served a 72-hour strike notice for about 4,400 flight attendants, with a potential work stoppage as early as Aug. 2 (02:01 ET). For now, passengers July 30–Aug. 4 can change or cancel one-time without fees, and those hit by cancellations tied to labour action can seek full refunds. Small Business Impact: CFIB warned a stoppage during peak summer travel could hit the transportation network and hurt small firms that rely on summer tourism, urging WestJet and the union to settle and Ottawa to be ready. Cross-Border Trade Pressure: Steelworkers’ and machinists’ leaders urged the Trump administration to reconsider tariffs on Canadian goods, arguing Canada isn’t the problem and warning of harm to integrated manufacturing jobs. Tech & Operations for SMBs: Saskatchewan’s Toccata launched Canaro, a remote monitoring platform with Wi‑Fi, cellular and satellite connectivity for hard-to-reach sites. Business Growth Moves: Couche-Tard announced plans to buy Poland’s Żabka in an $8.6B deal, while Lightspeed reported voting results from its July 30 shareholder meeting.

U.S. Tariff Shock for Cross-Border SMBs: President Trump replaced temporary global duties with new Section 301 trade tariffs effective July 24, hitting at least 50% of imports from 60 countries at 10%–12.5%, with Canada also targeted—raising fresh cost and planning pressure for Canadian small businesses tied to U.S. supply chains. Ontario Immigration Overhaul: Ontario amended the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, closing former streams and launching an employer-connected Ontario Workforce Priority stream first, aiming to better match labour-market needs—an issue for SMBs hiring internationally. Local Business Support & Community Programs: UNBC says Shad Canada participants can apply for up to a $2,500 tuition credit, while Newfoundland and Labrador is set to announce renewed federal support for gender-based violence crisis hotlines. Logistics Tools for Small Shippers: UPS rolled out new digital tools for sole proprietors, including a pickup dashboard and faster label creation, designed to simplify shipping and reduce pickup costs. SME-Adjacent Policy & Market Signals: Vancouver marked Mining and Mineral Exploration Day, and Ontario’s community media publishers renewed pressure on Canada Post for fairer delivery rates—both reminders that local services and rules can make or break small operators.

Skilled Trades Support: CIBC is teaming up with Taskrabbit to give Canada’s skilled trades workers tailored banking offers, financial literacy resources, and recognition opportunities during onboarding. Retail & Payments: Loblaw reported Q2 revenue growth of 4.1% and rising adjusted diluted net earnings per share, while also outlining changes tied to the PC Financial sale and EQB income recognition. E-commerce & Retail Tech: Lightspeed posted first-quarter 2027 results with revenue and organic growth ahead of outlook, signaling continued demand for retail and restaurant software. Small Business Spotlight: A local Ontario entrepreneur is expanding a two-concept storefront model—custom gift baskets plus a shop featuring local makers—showing how niche retail can scale with community foot traffic. Local Business Ops: A Richmond, BC piece encourages small businesses to tighten bookkeeping practices, a practical reminder as owners juggle costs and cash flow. Energy & Growth: TC Energy flagged strong first-half performance and expects 2026 comparable EBITDA at the upper end of its range, backed by new growth projects.

Northern Business Policy: Ottawa is eyeing a fall rollout for Nutrition North Canada reforms, with a shift toward building a broader northern “food economy” that supports local entrepreneurs and supply chains, not just subsidies. Trade Barriers for SMEs: The CFIB praised a Canada-wide agreement letting independent alcohol producers ship directly across provincial borders, aiming to cut internal trade friction for small wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. Local Business Support: The Ontario Bar Association and Toronto BIAs are partnering to route eligible entrepreneurs to pro bono legal help via the OBA Pro Bono Portal, targeting key early-stage needs like incorporation, hiring, leases and regulatory navigation. Bookkeeping Practicalities (BC): A Richmond, B.C. firm published guidance urging small businesses to separate personal and business finances, track expenses consistently, and tighten monthly reconciliations to protect cash flow. Indigenous Business Networking: Northeastern Alberta’s Aboriginal Business Association set its 2026 AGM for Oct. 9 under a “From Roots to Renewal” theme focused on strengthening Indigenous entrepreneurship through community and connection. Business Climate Signal: A Xero update on New Zealand’s small firms shows sales rising while jobs and wages barely move—an example of a “two-speed” recovery that Canadian SMEs will watch closely. Corporate Moves Affecting Markets: Canfor reported Q2 results and announced permanent closures of mills in Sweden and B.C., while also completing an acquisition in Calgary to add I-joist capacity.

Critical Metals Funding: West Kootenay’s “Metal Tech Alley” is getting $300,300 to help local firms recover and process critical metals from recycling, build investor-ready partnerships, and create jobs. Leadership Moves: Kalsec names Greg Shewchuk EVP & Chief Commercial Officer as it continues a planned transition; Rose Hill Life Sciences adds Bryan Smith as Scientific Advisor to guide its preclinical-to-clinical pipeline. SMB Automation in Finance: Manger Insurance cuts monthly commission reconciliation from 2–3 days to faster, less manual work by switching to Applied Recon inside Applied Epic. AI + Data Centres in Alberta: Jet.AI invests in Calgary’s StratGrid to develop behind-the-meter, natural gas-powered AI data center capacity, aiming for faster interconnection and steadier power costs. Indigenous Business Recognition: Goodfish Lake Business Corporation is named CCIB’s 2026 Indigenous Business of the Year for 50 years of community-driven growth. Payments/Stablecoins Expansion: Movement adds senior marketing and people leaders as it pushes stablecoin settlement into Latin America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Corporate Earnings & Dividends: Precision Drilling posted 2026 Q2 results, while Pulse Seismic declared a regular quarterly dividend and Methanex reported strong Q2 earnings and cash flow. Energy & Jobs: Canfor will permanently close its Fox Creek sawmill in Alberta, citing weak lumber markets, US duties/tariffs, and fibre limits after wildfires. Municipal Housing Fight: Vancouver council voted 10-1 to reject the “villages” plan after a surge of opposition. Small-Business & Local Growth: Langford business students launched an online merch store to fund a lost-pets nonprofit, and a Saskatoon ag startup pitch at an AgTech Breakfast pushed mobile livestock preg-checking to cut costs for producers. Tech for SMBs: Rentrak and D-BOX will deliver standalone box-office reporting for premium motion seating in Canada/US, aiming to better measure revenue from differentiated theatre formats. Trade Pressure: New Brunswick businesses warned about potential US tariff impacts on wood, paper and other goods. AI in the Provinces: Saskatchewan’s first AI expo drew 127 attendees, with plans to scale next year.

Airport Tech & Operations: ABM launched an autonomous robotics pilot at LaGuardia’s Terminal B, using inspection/cleaning robots (including a quadruped “dog”) to boost safety and passenger experience. Real Estate Expansion: StorageVault agreed to buy 4 self-storage properties in the GTA and Southwestern Ontario for $81.55M, including a new joint venture with Woodbourne. Biotech Sustainability: Aramis Biotechnologies teamed with CIRAIG, Premier Tech and CRIBIQ on a life-cycle study comparing plant-based vaccine production to egg-based methods to quantify greenhouse-gas reductions. Health & Consumer Tech: MyFitnessPal published peer-reviewed findings that daily app engagement is the strongest predictor of weight-loss success. Payments & Branding: TextNow rolled out a new national campaign with Katt Williams, while Payop unveiled a Gamescom brand refresh focused on “seamless” payments. Canadian Digital Trust: CIRA’s 2026 Internet Trends Report says privacy concerns are driving Canadians’ app and data choices, with many preferring Canadian data storage. SME-Relevant Finance & Growth: TransUnion reported strong Q2 results; and Lysander-Canso completed its conversion to an ETF on the TSX (PBY). Western Canada Business: Flightpath expanded private charter and aircraft management operations across Western Canada from Calgary.

CFIB on TFW: CFIB says Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program is filling jobs many young Canadians won’t take, pointing to a mismatch over overnight shifts, outdoor work, and near-minimum pay. Local retail expansion: Lee’s Donuts is opening its first location outside the Lower Mainland in downtown Victoria, with construction underway and a mid-to-late November target. Tech for SMBs: SalesCloser says it’s deploying its conversational AI for Xennox’s wellness and spa clients to streamline multilingual prospecting and bookings. AI in healthcare: Diagnos received Health Canada approval for its CARA AI retinal analysis system, aiming to support optometrists with earlier detection. Business hiring reality check: A restaurant-focused piece argues Gen Z isn’t lowering standards—they’re raising expectations for growth and workplace quality. Trade pressure watch: Coverage highlights how new U.S. tariff plans are moving into a more durable, court-tested phase—raising uncertainty for cross-border SMBs. Capital markets: Telesat outlines next steps for its Upper C-band transition after the FCC order, with deadlines that could affect telecom partners. Corporate governance: ARCpoint reports its management cease trade order application was declined by the BCSC, with filing delays still in play.

Women-Owned Funding: BMO’s BMO Celebrating Women grant program marks 10 years with $1M total in support, awarding 10 women-owned businesses $100,000 plus coaching and resources. SMB Scheduling Pain: HoneyBook’s Venue Focus Study finds 97% of event venue managers lack an easy system for organizing bookings, with many still building orders by hand. Payments Innovation: NectarPay launches non-custodial crypto payments on the TEXITcoin chain, pitching zero transaction fees and faster settlement for merchants. Dealmaking in Insurance: Cinven and La Caisse agree to jointly acquire Optio, a UK specialty MGA platform, signaling continued investment in niche insurance services. Drone Readiness for Rural Agencies: Draganfly partners with SRLEEA to launch a drone implementation and readiness program tailored to small, rural and tribal law enforcement. Energy & Infrastructure M&A: Expand Energy signs a deal to acquire Twin Eagle for $1.25B, aiming to combine supply with asset-backed gas marketing. Leadership Moves: Altus names a new CFO (Katie Royce) and ProStar appoints Michael Wolff as CEO as both firms push growth. Tech for Growth: Multiverse Computing raises a $570M Series C to scale efficient AI, with Canadian venture participation noted.

Tariff Pressure on SMEs: Trump’s latest US tariff push (10%–12.5% on 60 countries, with Canada also targeted) is facing fresh legal fights from small businesses, and analysts say the “tariff wall” may be harder to overturn after a Supreme Court setback—raising uncertainty for Canadian exporters and cross-border operators. Canadian Business Support & Inclusion: CanadianSME and Enabled Talent launched Enable Accessibility Canada Inc., aiming to boost disability inclusion through a podcast, magazine, and awards. Local Growth Stories: Uber Canada plans to expand rideshare service to 79 communities in Northeastern Ontario under Ontario’s pilot framework, while Saskatchewan’s ABEX Awards named finalists and business leaders ahead of the provincial ceremony. Indigenous Entrepreneurship + AI: Métis entrepreneur Shani Gwin is building an AI tool to flag inaccurate portrayals of Indigenous Peoples in written content, part of a broader push to use AI for education and cultural preservation. Youth Entrepreneurship: An 11-year-old in East Gwillimbury turned a $10 bin-cleaning idea into a real customer base and viral social following—an example of how kids are finding work when hiring is tough.

Tariff Pressure on Canadian SMBs: New U.S. tariff moves are being framed as “more durable” after Supreme Court setbacks, with analysts warning the wall may stick and expand—raising fresh uncertainty for Canadian exporters and small businesses trying to plan costs and supply chains. Legal Fight Over Tariffs: Small businesses have already filed lawsuits challenging the latest tariff hikes, arguing the government didn’t properly justify or detail how forced-labour claims translate into specific economic impacts. Local Rideshare Rules in Ontario: Uber Canada plans to launch in 79 communities across Northeastern Ontario under a provincial pilot, pushing for standardized rules around safety, insurance, and driver screening. Accessibility Push for Canadian Entrepreneurs: CanadianSME and Enabled Talent launched Enable Accessibility Canada Inc., aiming to boost disability inclusion through a podcast, magazine, and awards. Small Business Spotlight: A Toronto couple’s Nine Mile Candle Co. is growing from a home-made gift idea into a small-batch, Canadian-sourced candle brand. Community & Growth: Uber, local chambers, and small events like butter tart markets show how SMBs are leaning into local demand and visibility.

Accessibility & Inclusion: CanadianSME and Enabled Talent launched Enable Accessibility Canada Inc., a national initiative with a podcast, magazine and awards to spotlight disability inclusion and accessibility progress. Rideshare Rules in Ontario: Uber Canada plans to expand to 79 communities in Northeastern Ontario under the province’s 2026 rideshare pilot, aiming to standardize safety, insurance and driver screening. Municipal Governance: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim urged B.C. to require Canadian residency for people registering to speak at City Council hearings, after a long, contentious Villages Plan session drew concerns about outside participation. Small Business Spotlight: Nine Mile Candle Co. is growing from a home-based craft into a small-batch candle business built on Canadian-sourced materials and cleaner ingredients. Trade Pressure on SMBs: New U.S. tariff moves tied to forced-labour claims are already triggering lawsuits from small businesses, while analysts say the “tariff wall” may be harder to overturn in court—raising uncertainty for cross-border operators. Local Growth Funding (Agri-food): FedNor backed a FEAST program (nearly $500K over three years) to help northwestern Ontario agri-food entrepreneurs scale via advice, equipment access and financial support.

Tariff Reality Check: Trump’s new forced-labour tariffs (10%–12.5% on imports from about 60 countries, including Canada) are drawing global backlash and landing in court, with small businesses arguing the U.S. is dodging a Supreme Court defeat by switching legal tools. Legal Fight for Small Firms: Two U.S. businesses (a spice importer and a watch retailer) sued over the tariff authority, setting up a fresh test of how long the new wall can last. Canada’s Interprovincial Push: Canada’s premiers keep chipping away at internal trade barriers, including a deal to expand direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across nine provinces, though CFIB says other hurdles remain for goods, services and labour. Indigenous AI for Truth: Edmonton Métis entrepreneur Shani Gwin is building an AI tool to flag inaccurate portrayals of Indigenous Peoples in written content, aiming to help organizations share Indigenous history and reduce online misinformation. SME AI Adoption: Burnaby’s Railtown AI is rolling out a service-led push to help Canadian SMEs adopt AI, backed by a national go-to-market plan. Local Business Pressure Points: In Ontario, a Sault Ste. Marie rideshare operator warns Uber expansion could squeeze small local services, even as the city weighs future growth. Muskoka Power Networking: Mark Carney attended a private Muskoka tech-and-policy conference (“The Dock”), spotlighting how high-level networks can shape Canada’s AI and investment conversations.

Tariff Shock for Small Business: The U.S. rolled out new forced-labour tariffs on about 60 trading partners, including Canada, with rates of 10% to 12.5% starting July 24—prompting fresh legal fights from small firms and raising the odds of higher input and consumer prices. Local Competition Pressure: In Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie, EZRide co-owner Chris Morris warned that Uber’s expansion could “hit” small local transport businesses even if prices drop for riders. AI for SMEs: Burnaby-based Railtown AI launched a service-led push to help Canadian SMEs adopt AI, backed by a minimum $500,000 marketing and customer-acquisition plan. Business Resilience Funding: Saint John reopened applications for a second round of its community resilience fund, offering up to $7,500 to small businesses and non-profits facing crime-related repair and security costs (deadline Aug. 31). SME Growth via Logistics: Canada’s DTI expanded its Supply Chain and Logistics Center network by adding nine industry partners to help MSMEs with logistics info and support. Tech/Industry Hiring Signals: McChip Resources appointed a new CFO and independent director, a reminder that governance and leadership changes continue across Canada’s small-cap ecosystem.

Trade Shock for SMEs: Ontario is putting $302K into Kingston’s Trade-Impacted Communities Program to help local firms diversify supply chains and find export opportunities beyond the U.S., as tariff uncertainty keeps biting. Federal Tech Push for Manufacturers: Eclipse Automation (Cambridge) secured a $6M FedDev Ontario investment to speed up digital manufacturing and AI-enabled factory planning through its Project Neuron and Neuron Centre. Retail Measurement Upgrade: Lightspeed Commerce rolled out integration with Meta’s Conversions API for Lightspeed Retail, aiming to help Canadian and other retailers better track how ads translate into in-store sales. AI/Fintech for Investors: Wisesheets launched a financial data API and MCP server with SEC-sourced fundamentals, starting free and from $19/month, targeting developers and AI agents. Cybersecurity Collaboration: GreenHat says its Web Summit Vancouver 2026 delegation produced an alpha Hyper Audit Ledger with INBLOCK, built to support verifiable audit trails. Canada Business-Ready for Tariffs: A new wave of U.S. tariffs (10%–12.5% on 80+ countries including Canada) is back in the spotlight, raising the stakes for cross-border pricing and sourcing decisions. Big Corporate Moves: CN declared its Q3 dividend (C$0.915/share) and raised 2026 guidance after strong Q2 results. Local Leadership Change: Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning named Kris Antolak president, with oversight of operations and growth across the U.S. and Canada.

Regulatory Pressure on SMBs: A Scarborough auto repair shop owner says he can’t clear over 1,000 scrap tires after city deadlines, blaming gaps in Ontario’s tire recycling system and PRO pickup commitments. Downtown Retail Survival: Edmonton retailers are bracing for more closures as safety concerns and construction tied to LRT and road work keep shoppers away, with some businesses saying they’re “not going anywhere.” Startup-to-Scale Support: Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Labs4 program is backing innovators with funding, mentorship and hands-on help to turn ideas into businesses, including a $10,000-supported ergonomic snow shovel project. Agri-Food Funding for Growth: PrairiesCan is putting $10 million into nine Saskatchewan agriculture and agri-food projects, targeting value-added processing, equipment and export-ready innovation. Tariffs Hit Small Business Cash Flow: A U.S. survey finds small firms are taking on debt, tapping retirement savings and raising prices to cope with tariff costs—warning that new tariff threats could worsen the squeeze. M&A and Expansion Signals: Systemair is acquiring Canadian Temspec (Mississauga) to strengthen its North American ventilation footprint, while FLUENT’s cannabis deal advances with OSC exemptive relief for its shareholder meeting. Local Business Tech & Talent: Light AI appoints Dallas Fontaine to its board, adding commercialization and scaling experience as the company pushes AI health diagnostics.