A look at key news events in July 2026

A look at news events in July 2026:

1 — Prime Minister Mark Carney wished everyone a happy Canada Day. He was in Ottawa to mark Canada Day celebrations but thunderstorms cut festivities short. Carney’s planned evening speech in Edmonton was cancelled due to weather conditions preventing his plane from taking off. 

1 — The Canada-U-S-Mexico Agreement remained in place as negotiations continued. The United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. was not renewing CUSMA “in its current form,” saying it would continue to engage with Mexico and Canada to address the agreement’s shortcomings. The decision triggered a rolling annual review for up to a decade, at which point it would expire if an extension was not agreed upon.

2 — A new Alberta-to-B.C. oil pipeline moved a step closer, with Premier Danielle Smith formally pitching the project alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney. The proposed line would largely follow the existing Trans Mountain route from Bruderheim to B.C.’s south coast. Smith said the project, backed by Trans Mountain Corporation and Pembina Pipeline, would ship more than one million barrels of bitumen a day to Asian markets. The announcement followed Ottawa’s deal with B.C., where Premier David Eby agreed not to challenge a federally approved pipeline in court. The agreement also kept the oil tanker ban in place along B.C.’s northern coast.

2 — Alberta announced it would be getting a $4.6 billion natural gas power plant aimed at fuelling the province’s growing data centre industry. Pembina Pipeline and its partners planned to build the 932-megawatt facility north of Edmonton, with operations expected in 2030. The customer had not been identified, but Alberta had been courting major AI companies looking for large-scale computing capacity. Premier Danielle Smith said requiring data centres to generate their own electricity would reduce pressure on the provincial grid. The companies said the project positioned Alberta as a destination for long-term technology investment.

3 — The family of a missing B.C. charter boat captain said warning signs were there before the deadly sinking. Girlfriend Hailey Lee said a damaged door let water rush into the boat during a trip two days before it went down. Chen Ming’s mother, Ashley Lin, said her son had complained about the vessel’s condition. Six people were still missing after the boat sank in the Georgia Strait, and police said no one was wearing life-jackets. The RCMP search continued as investigators worked to determine the cause of the disaster.

3 — The Calgary Stampede parade doubled as a political barometer for Premier Danielle Smith. Supporters cheered her along the route, while critics answered with boos and chants of “Canada.” The mixed reaction came as Alberta headed toward an October vote tied to the province’s debate over separation. Smith also used the Stampede to promote a proposed new pipeline to the West Coast. The annual parade launched 10 days of rodeo, celebrations and political deal-making.

4 — Canada’s best-ever men’s World Cup run came to an end. Morocco blanked the co-hosts 3-0 to book another trip to the quarterfinals. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last eight at two straight World Cups. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team was no longer chasing respect — it was among the world’s contenders. Canada coach Jesse Marsch said his players proved they could compete with the world’s best.

4 — Canadian and U.S. fighter jets flew together over Ottawa during celebrations marking U.S. Independence Day. The flypast featured American F-35s alongside Canadian C-F-18s as part of the Norad defence partnership. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said Canada would soon take delivery of its first F-35 aircraft. The appearance came as Ottawa continued reviewing its planned purchase of 88 jets. Officials said the display highlighted decades of military co-operation despite broader trade tensions.

5 — A CN Rail train derailed northeast of Montreal, sending 45 cars off the tracks. Police in Repentigny said no one was hurt and that no hazardous materials were released. CN said three of the railcars had previously carried diesel, but they were empty at the time. The derailment cut power to more than 1,000 Hydro-Quebec customers.

5 — An out-of-control wildfire near Boston Bar, B.C., grew to more than 12 square kilometres. Evacuation orders were in place for North Bend, Fishblue Lake and parts of the Boothroyd Indian Band, while Boston Bar remained under an evacuation alert. The human-caused Brunswick Creek fire was being fought by groundcrews and helicopters, but steep terrain and poor visibility hindered air operations. Highway 1 remained open, although several nearby roads were closed. 

6 — Prime Minister Mark Carney named German submarine manufacturer TKMS as the preferred bidder to supply the navy’s next fleet of subs. Carney confirmed the news at a Canadian Armed Forces base in Halifax. The prime minister said it was a close race and a difficult decision to choose between TKMS and its South Korean rival bidder Hanwha. But the federal government was unwilling to talk about the total price tag or exactly how many boats it would buy.

6 — Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said he was leaving the Canadian Space Agency. The 50-year-old from London, Ont., made history in April as the first Canadian to make the trip around the moon, aboard NASA’s Artemis 2 mission. The space agency said Hansen would pursue new professional opportunities this September, but would continue as a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hansen had not said where he was going but posted on social media that his new job was designed to help find ways to support space-related work happening in Canada.

7 — The U.S. launched new airstrikes against Iran after accusing Tehran of attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile strikes targeting U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears of another escalation. Washington said it also revoked Iran’s ability to openly sell crude oil. The exchange cast fresh doubt on planned negotiations aimed at easing tensions and reopening the vital shipping route. The latest violence threatened to unravel the fragile ceasefire and deepen instability across the Middle East.

7 — NATO was preparing to modernize its airborne surveillance fleet with radar aircraft built largely in Canada. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance was looking to acquire up to 10 Saab GlobalEye aircraft. The platform combined Saab’s radar technology with Bombardier’s largely Canadian-built Global 6500 business jet. Ottawa was also considering its own GlobalEye purchase. Rutte said the aircraft offered NATO a proven way of tracking modern threats.

8 — Canada announced an $800-million contract with a Norwegian company to acquire joint strike missiles for future Royal Canadian Air Force fighter jets. The prime minister made the announcement at the NATO summit in Turkey, where allies unveiled tens of billions in military-related spending because of pressure from the U.S. Carney also announced ahead of the summit a procurement plan for 12 submarines for the navy. The German-Norwegian bid narrowly beat South Korea’s, but Carney said he was already in talks with Seoul about issues around AI and how they could deepen their co-operation there.

8 — Rogers Sports and Media shut down six of its radio stations, including its Sportsnet stations in Vancouver and Calgary. The company said the station closures would result in 80 employees losing their jobs. Rogers cited declining audience numbers and lower advertisement revenue for the decision. Rogers would continue broadcasting Vancouver Canucks games on one of its radio properties in that city but would no longer produce Calgary Flames broadcasts for radio.

9 — Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up his weeklong foreign trip by meeting with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and business leaders. Carney’s trip was the first to Saudi Arabia by a sitting Canadian prime minister in 26 years. Canada had been mending bilateral ties after a 2018 diplomatic spat where the Trudeau government criticized the kingdom’s justice system and its treatment of women. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she raised human rights and consular cases in her meetings in Saudi Arabia.

9 — The Toronto Raptors hit the pause button on their Kawhi Leonard trade pending an NBA investigation. The league said the team would assume the risk of any outcome from an ongoing investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers. The investigation reportedly stemmed from allegations Leonard signed a US$28 million “no-show” endorsement deal with an environmental financial technology company. That company later entered bankruptcy after its co-founder was charged with fraud, but Leonard had not been charged with any wrongdoing.

10 — Statistics Canada said the economy continued to add jobs in June with a gain of 18,000 positions. That was enough to push the unemployment rate down a tenth of a point to 6.5 per cent. The agency said youth saw a better start to the summer job market that year compared with 2025 amid a gain of 33,000 positions for workers aged 15 to 24. Job growth was primarily in part-time work last month and led by the wholesale and retail trade industry and the food and accommodation sector.

10 — Cineplex said the latest Toy Story movie played a big role in boosting box office revenue in June. The entertainment company reported second-quarter box office revenue of $55.8 million, up from $51.8 million a year earlier. It added that Toy Story 5 posted the largest domestic opening weekend of 2026 so far. The results were also boosted by Scary Movie — widely referred to as Scary Movie 6 — which posted the largest opening weekend in its franchise’s history.

11 — Terror shattered the joy of one of Toronto’s biggest summer festivals as gunfire sent thousands of people scrambling for safety. Two men were killed, and four others were injured after shots were exchanged shortly after 8 p.m. at the Salsa on St. Clair festival. Police secured three crime scenes, recovered two guns and had not made any announcements on arrests as the investigation continued. Witnesses described panic as people ran, screamed and dropped to the ground while trying to escape the violence. Political leaders, including Mayor Olivia Chow, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Premier Doug Ford, condemned the shooting and praised first responders.

11 — Mark Carney urged Canadians to work together on the country’s economic and energy future. The prime minister said Canada must boost responsible resource development while responding to rising costs, global instability and climate pressures. He delivered his message to the Calgary Stampede while also acknowledging Alberta’s frustrations with past federal energy policies, arguing it was time to move beyond decades of division. Carney defended scaling back elements of the previous Liberal climate plan, saying the changes better reflected current realities.

12 — Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated again as both countries claimed authority over the Strait of Hormuz following a weekend of military strikes across the Middle East. The U.S. military said it hit dozens of Iranian military targets, as Tehran insisted the strategic waterway remained under its control. Iran warned it would resist foreign interference. Meanwhile, the United Nations said a return to full-scale fighting would have devastating consequences, and mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt continued pushing both sides toward de-escalation.

12 — Canadian leaders paid tribute to veteran U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham following his death over the weekend. Prime Minister Mark Carney praised Graham’s steadfast support for democracy and Ukraine. Preliminary findings indicated the South Carolina Republican died after an aortic tear. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Industry Minister Melanie Joly also remembered Graham for his influence on foreign policy despite political differences.

13 — Former Nygard International fashion mogul Peter Nygard accepted a plea deal in his latest sexual assault trial in Montreal. The 84-year-old did not present any evidence in his defence before a Court of Quebec judge found him guilty of sexual assault and forcible confinement. Quebec prosecutors alleged the assault in question took place at Nygard’s Montreal penthouse between November 1997 and November 1998. The case was separate from Nygard’s conviction in Toronto, where he was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault in 2023 and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

13 — The Alberta government, Ottawa and five major oilsands producers signed a memorandum of understanding to advance a multibillion-dollar carbon capture and storage project. The Pathways project was a condition for a new West Coast oilsands pipeline moving ahead. The MOU said the project would proceed in stages, with a completion date of Jan. 1, 2035. The members of the consortium behind the Pathways alliance were Canadian Natural Resources, Imperial Oil, Suncor, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips.

14 — British Columbia’s wildfire service warned parched conditions and a risk of lightning meant a major wildfire could start in the next 24 to 48 hours. The service said high winds would add to the risk, especially in the southern two-thirds of B.C. The dire warnings came as the provincial government said forecasts predicted elevated drought conditions across much of B.C. that summer. It asked residents to conserve water wherever possible to reduce the risk of water becoming scarce.

14 — The federal government created a facility in Quebec to advance Canada’s military capabilities with drones. A group of 30 organizations received nearly $30 million over two years to set up and run the new defence innovation centre. They included industry, academia, and the non-profit sector and would research, design, produce and test drones. Quebec Economy Minister Bernard Drainville said the war in Ukraine highlighted the vital role drones played in defence.

15 — The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.25 per cent for a sixth consecutive decision. The report said Canada’s economy was showing signs of improvement, with growth picking up and inflation projected to ease gradually. It added there were still important risks and uncertainties related to the war in the Middle East and U.S. trade policy. The bank projected global GDP growth would slow to 2.75 per cent in 2026, mostly because of the effects of the Middle East conflict.

15 — The federal government said it would be pausing applications from people who wanted to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada. The pause affected a program meant to promote family reunification for the rest of that year. The Immigration Department said the change was part of an effort to responsibly manage the system and reduce wait times. Canadian citizens and permanent residents could still apply for a so-called “super visa” that allowed parents and grandparents to visit for five years at a time and up to 10 in years total.

16 — Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province would spare no expense to keep people safe from northern wildfires. Dozens of forest fires were burning out of control and 15 communities had already begun evacuations or were considering them. Ontario asked the federal government to be ready to help evacuate communities by aircraft. Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said she was in close contact with her Ontario counterpart.

16 — The Assembly of First Nations asked the federal government to provide immediate support to a northern Ontario First Nation razed by wildfire. Collins First Nation was recognized by the Anishinabek Nation but did not have status with the federal government. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty was noncommittal when asked if Ottawa would fund the First Nation. Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford credited first responders for the fact there had been no fatalities in more than 180 wildfires across northern Ontario.

17 — U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Canada with higher tariffs because wildfire smoke was drifting south of the border. Trump accused Canada’s forest management of leaving the U.S. with unnecessary pollution and unacceptable poor air quality. Wildfires were ripping through northwestern Ontario, forcing residents in several First Nations communities to evacuate. One remote community was destroyed with its residents forced to flee in small boats.

17 — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre demanded more details on the deal made to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Prime Minister Mark Carney spread confusion the day before, saying any sharing of toll revenue would not happen until after all the debt was repaid. But he also said Canada and the U.S. would split net revenues, after operational costs, over the first 15 years. A senior Canadian government source confirmed the deal had no provision to cover Canada’s debt servicing costs.

18 — Several strikes of lightning dramatically changed B.C.’s wildfire picture, pushing the number of active fires above 100 in just a few days. Most of the new blazes were burning out of control, with evacuation orders and alerts stretching across parts of the southern Interior. Residents in communities including Pemberton and Boston Bar continued monitoring conditions, while some chose to remain despite evacuation orders. The B.C. Wildfire Service said thousands of lightning strikes sparked much of the recent fire activity, keeping crews under heavy pressure.

18 — Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged wildfire evacuees not to return to their homes. Ford said heading back to homes and campsites could jeopardize firefighting efforts. The premier was joined by other government officials at a news conference in Thunder Bay, Ont., where many of the province’s evacuees had sought shelter. Nearly 200 wildfires were burning across northern Ontario and the province was facing criticism for its emergency response so far.

19 — Spain was back on top of world soccer after Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to edge Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final. La Roja — as the Spanish team is known — controlled possession throughout the match before finally breaking through in extra time to claim its second World Cup title. Torres buried the winner from close range after Nico Williams kept the attack alive, capping Spain’s dominant performance. U.S. President Donald Trump joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for the trophy presentation as Spain celebrated the championship.

19 — Canada was expected to take a step toward a next-generation fighter jet partnership by joining the Global Combat Air Program as an observer rather than a full member. The proposed alliance between the U.K., Japan and Italy was developing a sixth-generation aircraft, with Ottawa seeking access to the project before deciding on a larger role. Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada wanted to learn more about the program, while the government continued reviewing its planned purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets.

20 — U.S. President Donald Trump signed orders to hammer certain Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs. The new tariffs were over grievances that included provincial bans on U.S. liquor and Canada’s supply managed dairy system. But they were not connected to Trump’s recent threat to hit Canada with higher tariffs because of wildfire smoke. The list covered a wide range of products from hockey sticks to cement, but had no exemptions for goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA.

20 — Marineland began relocating its whales, sending six belugas from Niagara Falls, Ont., to aquariums in Chicago and San Antonio. The move followed Ottawa’s rejection of a plan to export 30 belugas and four dolphins to China, prompting a new agreement with U.S. and Spanish aquariums. Four whales went to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, while two were headed to SeaWorld San Antonio, all travelling together on a flight of about one hour. Marineland said the transfers required months of planning and cross-border co-ordination, with the whales’ safety and comfort as the top priority.

21 — An Australian woman gave birth to identical quadruplet girls after a pregnancy doctors described as incredibly rare. The 34-year-old mother — Jenitar Sau Na’amoana — already had four children and delivered the new babies last week at a hospital in Queensland state. The babies were conceived naturally and resulted from a single fertilized egg that split into four. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist believed the chances of conceiving quadruplet girls were around one in 15 million.

21 — A new wildfire that ignited south of Boston Bar, B.C., prompted authorities to urge anyone still in the community to leave immediately. The Fraser Valley Regional District said the blaze that broke out Tuesday night was spreading quickly due to strong winds. It forced the closure of Highway 1 south of the community, so residents had to flee north instead. Residents of the township of fewer than 200 had already been ordered to leave earlier that month, with fires burning to the west and northeast.

22 — A burst of fire activity in British Columbia was being linked to high temperatures, with most of the province under about 40 heat warnings. A third British Columbia community — the village of Clinton — came under threat from advancing wildfires as the southern Interior faced a series of evacuation orders and alerts. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District ordered the evacuation of about 180 properties on the Bonaparte Plateau around Big Bar Lake to the north of Clinton. Elsewhere, the entire city of Kimberley in southeast B.C. — with a population of more than 8,000 — remained under an evacuation alert.

22 — Actor William Shatner revealed that not only had he been fighting cancer for the past couple of years, but so had his daughter. The Star Trek legend told People Magazine in an exclusive that they were now both cancer-free. His 57-year-old daughter Melanie was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer four years ago, and less than a year later, he was given a cancer diagnosis. He said the stage four malignant melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain was frightening.

23 — The prime minister said he and the premiers would have to be convinced any U.S. trade deal was worth the paper it was written on. Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up a meeting with Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders in Charlottetown. The premiers went into the meeting calling for Carney and his negotiators to intensify work on renewing the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade. U.S. President Donald Trump signed orders that week to impose 50 per cent tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods, starting next month.

23 — Canada’s run at the 2026 Volleyball Nations League ended with a quarterfinal loss. The Canadians led in attack points but fell behind Turkey in blocks, aces, and points from opponent errors. Canada finished sixth overall in the tournament after advancing to the VNL Finals for the first time. Turkey won the VNL in 2023 and reached the 2024 Olympic semifinals.

24 — Archeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii unveiled the partially reconstructed frescoed ceiling vault of a banquet hall featuring detailed images of Greek mythology. The city was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, but there were new discoveries and restorations in the excavations of Pompeii. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of Italy’s most visited tourist attractions.

24 — Canada held its own ceremony to mark the upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The government cancelled a joint celebration with the U.S. after President Donald Trump threatened new 50 per cent tariffs. Several officials attended the Canadian ceremony, including Housing Minister Gregor Robertson and Windsor, Ont., Mayor Drew Dilkens. He called the bridge a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project.

25 — A Canadian NATO intern was accused of spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organization. Belgium’s federal prosecutor said the female intern of Chinese origin was arrested on Friday. She had been working at NATO’s strategic headquarters of the Allied Powers Europe in southwestern Belgium. Canada’s National Defence had not yet commented.

25 — At least one person was dead, and 16 others were injured in Berlin after a van slammed into a crowd at Berlin’s Pride festival. Police called off the celebrations and a concert at one of Europe’s largest Pride events. A police spokesperson said they had identified a suspect who had not been arrested, and he had ties to Islamic groups in the German capital. He added that the suspect was known to police, but there was no information on his specific motives, the exact sequence of events, or his role in the crime.

26 — Two people were killed, and five others were wounded in a shooting during a food festival at an events complex near the Space Needle in Seattle. A city fire department spokesperson confirmed the deaths, while police said they were investigating and urged people to avoid the area just northwest of downtown. The gunfire erupted at the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle festival — which typically drew 350,000 people over three days. A medical centre spokesperson said the hospital admitted four victims, including a toddler, a 23-year-old man and two women.

26 — Two wildfires in British Columbia merged and were moving north and northeast, about 20 kilometres from a historic village in the province’s Interior. The B.C. wildfire service updated its mapping today, saying the estimated size of the Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek fires combined was nearly 670 square kilometres. It came after the Pear Lake blaze destroyed structures, including homes, on the outskirts of the village of Clinton. Meanwhile, the roughly 250-square-kilometre French Bar Creek fire also continued to burn to the northwest, making up the Big Bar complex of fires. A B.C. Wildfire fire information officer said the merged fires also crossed over a stretch of Highway 97, which would require repairs.

27 — The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to motorists. Officials announced the Howe family crossed first, in honour of the bridge’s Canadian-American hockey namesake. Minutes later, another social media post marked the crossing of the first commercial truck, a vehicle from a trucking company in Tecumseh, Ont., carrying auto parts to Michigan. U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra welcomed the milestone, saying the bridge would add “new capacity to one of the busiest and most economically significant border crossings between the United States and Canada.”

27 — The U.S. consulate in Toronto was shot at in the early morning leading police to briefly pursue the suspect vehicle before calling off the chase for safety reasons. Toronto police said there was damage to the building facade, noting a shell casing was found outside the building. In March, the U.S. consulate was targeted by two suspects who allegedly fired multiple shots at the building before driving away in a stolen vehicle. Now an 18- and 19-year-old faced charges that had yet to be tested in court.

28 — The first load of rotting, reeking fish sauce was trucked away from an abandoned factory in a Newfoundland and Labrador town, marking the beginning of the end of a decades-long fight. The stench from the Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company building had lingered since it was left behind by its owner more than 20 years ago. Steve Ryan, mayor of the town of St. Mary’s, said councillors had begged the federal and provincial governments to help clean up the plant. Over the next few months, workers would drain the 110 towering vats of left-behind fluids and mix them with peat moss, which would absorb all the liquids.

28 — Gymnast Felix Dolci captured two titles to lead another stellar day for Canada at the Commonwealth Games. The 24-year-old from Quebec claimed his third and fourth gold medals of the Games, as well as a bronze. Canada also took home two gold medals in weightlifting, one in swimming and one in hammer throw. The gold-medal surge lifted Canada to second overall in the standings behind only Australia.

29 — An 11-year-old Calgary boy named Parker was found dead in a narrow water pipe beneath Deerfoot Trail, two weeks after he disappeared. Police believed the non-verbal autistic child wandered into a deep culvert and a complex network of pipes after leaving his day home on July 16. Hundreds of officers and volunteers searched across Calgary, using aircraft, dogs, surveillance footage and Parker’s favourite music to guide their efforts. The search was hindered by false AI-generated images and reports, while the case renewed calls for broader emergency alerts for missing vulnerable children.

29 — Ottawa said it was investing $1.9 billion to replace Via Rail’s aging locomotive fleet and build a new assembly and maintenance plant in Montreal. The plan included 45 Stadler locomotives, with the first nine built in Spain and the remaining 36 assembled in Canada. The hybrid trains were expected to improve reliability, reduce fuel use and emissions, and operate in temperatures as low as minus-50. The investment came as Via Rail faced rising maintenance costs and poor on-time performance, which fell to 30 per cent in early 2025.

30 — The federal government said it would invest more than $10 billion to help expand a port in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. During a stop in Delta, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Port of Vancouver’s Roberts Bank expansion would aim to boost container capacity and grow exports away from the United States by more than 50 per cent. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced that month that Ottawa was referring the plan to Canada’s Major Projects Office for possible fast-tracking. Carney said the port’s expansion was a tremendous opportunity to strengthen Canada’s independence and resilience while creating jobs.

30 — The federal government opened a new strategic exports office as part of its plan to diversify trade. The office would be housed under Global Affairs Canada, tasked with removing trade irritants, lifting market access barriers and addressing infrastructure gaps. It was announced in Budget 2025 to help Canada secure international business opportunities in sectors including aerospace, defence, infrastructure, and energy.

31 — WestJet said it had started parking aircraft ahead of a possible strike by flight attendants. The Canadian Union of Public Employees triggered a 72-hour strike notice that ended on Sunday. The airline had not disclosed how many flights it had cancelled in anticipation of a strike or lockout, but airlines typically began to wind down flight schedules ahead of a labour deadline to avoid stranded crews and aircraft. 

31 — A congressman from Washington State said the U.S. Coast Guard should review and update oil spill response plans due to a planned pipeline from Alberta to B.C. Democratic Representative Rick Larsen said he sent a letter to a top Coast Guard official that week seeking details on co-ordination efforts for a Canada-U.S. pollution contingency plan. The proposed pipeline was expected to end at B.C.’s Roberts Bank terminal, just a few kilometres by water from the Canada-U.S. border.