AGP Executive Report

Tariff Shock for SMBs: Canada braces for new 50% U.S. tariffs on about $20B of goods starting Wednesday, with negotiators still far apart—businesses warn of job losses and knock-on effects for sectors like wine, wood products, and manufacturing. Hiring Pressure & Cash Strain: A Prairies survey finds small businesses under strain, with Manitoba/Sask owners most likely to fund operations using personal credit cards or home equity (49%) and many considering permanent closure (54%). Local Growth & Succession: Ottawa’s small-business market is getting more active as owners sell and buyers look for established operations, with the city’s Small Business Navigator pushing succession planning. Vancouver Startup Push: OneCity’s mayoral candidate William Azaroff promises to make it “easier, faster, cheaper” to start and scale businesses, including an entrepreneur liaison office and micro-grants. Cross-Border Pivot: An Ontario manufacturer is scrambling as a Canada-U.S. tariff deadline looms, saying it can’t ship certain items to the U.S. and is rerouting production. Marketplace for Ethnic Groceries: Winnipeg-based MamiMarkets is connecting ethnic food vendors with customers across seven Canadian cities, using same-day delivery and vendor storefronts without POS integration. Employer Ghosting Backlash: A new site, “Did they ghost you?”, is calling out employers that go silent after interviews, reflecting rising frustration in Canada’s hiring market. Workforce Alliance for Manufacturing: Ottawa launches an Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance to tackle skills gaps and help manufacturers grow amid labour shortages. Housing for Workers: B.C.’s Denciti is moving ahead with a 135-unit rental in Esquimalt, including live-work units aimed at small businesses and professional services. Business Financing Reality Check: A BBB tip reminds startups to budget for unexpected startup costs beyond the obvious.

Canada-U.S. Trade Talks: Canadian negotiators stayed in Washington over the weekend as a tariff deadline nears, with 50% duties on about $20B in Canadian goods set to kick in Wednesday unless an off-ramp deal is reached. Small-Business Costs & Policy: Separate coverage flags mounting pressure on Canadian small firms as tax reform and tariff impacts move back into the spotlight. Wildfire Relief for Communities: Associa Cares Canada earmarked $100,000 for British Columbia wildfire relief, offering direct, no-strings financial support to evacuees and affected residents. Local Business Recognition: Saskatoon Audio Visual won a 2026 Consumer Choice Award for audio visual services, highlighting demand for reliable event production across Saskatchewan. Northern Entrepreneurship: The Kivalliq Trade Show (Sept. 21-23) returns with a focus on listening to Inuit priorities, alongside a five-day Kivalliq Entrepreneur Program (Sept. 19-23). Franchise Growth: Take 5 Oil Change opened its first Rogers, Minnesota location, adding quick-service jobs and a simple oil-change model for local drivers. Tech & AI Hiring Pressure: A report says layoff fears are pushing some visa holders out of Big Tech, a reminder of how talent flows can shift quickly. Medical Travel & Standards: DentSpa in Istanbul earned Global Healthcare Accreditation for its international patient experience, signaling how cross-border service providers are competing on patient journeys.

Mining & Community Conflict: Endeavour Silver says an “illegal blockade” by a nearby Ejido community has temporarily suspended operations at its Terronera mine in Mexico since Aug. 12, with reduced staffing on site and talks underway to restart. Tax Reform Push: Ottawa’s pre-budget consultations are zeroing in on long-awaited tax code reform, with small-business changes framed as a priority for the fall budget. Municipal Infrastructure Funding: Ontario and the feds are rolling out $1B for municipalities that don’t charge development fees, aiming to fund housing and critical infrastructure. B.C. SMB Sentiment: A B.C. CFIB barometer update shows confidence improving but growth expectations still weak, with cost pressures (tax/regulation, wages, fuel) staying high. AI for Rural Productivity: An East Kootenay initiative urges businesses to test AI for real productivity gains before adopting tools. Cyber & Privacy for SMBs: A new roundup highlights best business VPN picks for 2026, including Proton VPN for team controls and privacy. Small-Business Tech Tools: A local app, BillMaple, targets late-fee pain by tracking utility bill due dates and payment history. Trade Pressure on Producers: Manitoba Pork is using the Iowa State Fair to build support amid looming U.S. tariff threats. Entrepreneurship & Skills: A Peace River conference (SongRise) returns in October to mix songwriting education with professional networking.

Tax Reform Push: Ottawa’s budget consultations are zeroing in on long-overdue tax code reform, with small-business changes flagged as a top priority as Liberals plan to tackle the system “one bite at a time.” Small Business Confidence: A new survey says Canadian small business confidence has hit a three-year low, with owners citing rising costs, thinner cash reserves, and growing business risks. Trade Pressure on Exporters: CFIB warns looming U.S. tariff moves could hit Canadian exporters hard, with some firms expecting revenue drops of half or more. Accounting Tools for SMBs: A roundup highlights popular small business accounting software options, from QuickBooks and Xero to Wave and Zoho, focusing on pricing and fit for different business needs. Local Growth & Community Markets: Toronto’s Greektown Street Festival bounced back with nearly 2 million visitors, and Barrie’s “mini CEO” market shows how youth are learning sales and money skills early. Entrepreneurship in the Spotlight: Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard pitches an RRSP-backed entrepreneurship access program for young would-be owners, while an Arthur resident launches BillMaple to help people track bills and avoid late fees.

Housing Equity: A new look at old property records shows racial restrictive covenants still linger in 1,367 Clark County properties, a reminder that discrimination can outlast the laws that created it. Small Business Finance: Ottawa’s tax code reform push is putting small business changes “high on the priority list,” with officials framing the fall budget as “chapter two” for growth. Local Business Growth: Toronto’s Greektown Street Festival, Taste of the Danforth, roared back with nearly 2 million visitors and 127 local businesses taking part. Entrepreneurship & Tools: An Arthur, Ont., resident launched BillMaple, an app that tracks utility bill due dates to help users avoid late fees. Community Markets: Barrie’s mini CEO market let kids run sales and money management for cookies, treats and lemonade—turning entrepreneurship into a hands-on lesson. Tech Distribution: Aartech Canada was named authorized distributor for TAKEX security sensing tech, expanding options for Canadian dealers and integrators. Policy & Skills: Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard says he’d use RRSPs to help aspiring entrepreneurs buy or start businesses, as part of an election push.

Tariff Pressure on Canadian SMBs: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley called Trump’s looming tariffs a “wake-up call” for Canada, warning negotiations can’t be used to undermine CUSMA. Tax Reform Push: Ottawa’s budget consultations signal long-awaited tax code reform, with changes for small businesses “high on the priority list,” as officials argue the system has grown too complex. Fuel Cost Shock for Operators: Canada’s federal gas/diesel excise tax break is set to end after a temporary pause, raising uncertainty for restaurants and other cost-sensitive small businesses. Local Business Deal: Williams Welding & Repair partnered with U-Haul to become a neighborhood dealer, adding rental and towing services without a franchise investment. Corporate/Capital Markets Notes: New Earth Resources will move to semi-annual reporting under a CSE exemption; several TSX-listed firms posted Q2 results and updates, including Avicanna’s margin improvement and Clairvest’s AGM director election. Diaspora Investment Angle: Nigeria’s Tinubu urged Nigerians abroad in Toronto to shift from remittances to productive investment—an idea that could resonate with Canadian-based entrepreneurs with cross-border ties.

Fuel Tax Shock for SMBs: Canada’s federal fuel excise tax break on gas/diesel is set to end after Sept. 7, and small business owners say the uncertainty and likely price jump will hit shipping and operating costs hard. Retail Shipping for Entrepreneurs: Staples Canada is partnering with Canada Post to roll out Small Business Shipping Services at select stores in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., adding domestic/international shipping, pre-labelled drop-offs and flat-rate supplies. Plasma Contract Fight: OPSEU/SEFPO is urging Ontario to cancel the for-profit Grifols plasma collection contract after Health Canada non-compliance findings and a reported pause in Canada. Business Formation Watch: Canada ranks 17th of 22 advanced economies on business formation, with coverage pointing to what leaders do differently. Local Tourism Ideas: Ontario’s summer road-trip guide highlights farm attractions and events, including corn/sunflower mazes and the Ontario Moonshine Festival. Capital Markets, Canada Focus: Partners Value and Clairvest posted new results, while multiple TSX/CSE issuers updated investors on financing, reporting changes and project progress.

Wildfire response and continuity: Rogers is turning on province-wide Rogers Satellite for all B.C. wireless customers, aiming to keep people connected when towers fail and to support text-to-911 and satellite-ready apps during emergencies. Local business recognition: Brockville’s Chamber of Commerce has named finalists for its Community Excellence Award, including Brockville Rowing Club, Sherwood Park Manor and RNJ Youth Services, with the gala set for mid-September. Workplace support for parents: Nominations are open for the 9th Annual Lactation Room Contest, offering $22,895 in workplace upgrade prizes and parent rewards. Capital markets: Canadian Large Cap Leaders Split Corp. completed an overnight offering of preferred and Class A shares, raising about $34.4M ahead of a planned close. M&A in clean power: Brookfield and La Caisse have completed their acquisition of Boralex, taking the company private. Small-business pressure from tariffs: CFIB reports incoming U.S. tariffs are expected to hit about 40% of Canadian exporters, with many small firms bracing for revenue drops. Entrepreneurship trend: A new analysis flags that active businesses in Canada fell to about 935,000, with too few new openings to replace closures. Export support: Canada’s small exporters are also watching trade policy closely as governments and partners push programs to help firms expand abroad.

Wildfire Relief in B.C.: In the Okanagan, volunteers and local groups in Penticton and Summerland mobilized fast to feed wildfire evacuees, coordinating donations of produce and cash to keep families supported. Rising Operating Costs in Atlantic Canada: A new survey says fuel prices are driving profit losses, with 75% of Maritimes small businesses reporting gas price harm and many forced to pass costs to customers. Vancouver Small-Business Zoning Push: OneCity is pitching “Good Business Starts at Home,” aiming to loosen rules so residents can run low-impact shops and services from residential neighbourhoods. B.C. PST Expansion Backlash: An all-party committee is urging the province to scrap the planned PST hike on professional services, warning it will raise costs for businesses and consumers. U.S. Tariff Shock for Cross-Border SMBs: A U.S. court backed Trump’s move to end the “de minimis” tariff exemption for low-value imports, a decision that could hit Canadian sellers relying on small shipments. Women Entrepreneurs Funding (Canada): Federal support is set to be announced for women entrepreneurs in Northumberland and across Canada. Tech Startup Spotlight (Vancouver): ScopeSys, a Vancouver biotech startup, is developing tools to help drugmakers analyze DNA/RNA at the molecule level after a $1.1M seed round. Export Grants (Utah, U.S.): The SBA and World Trade Center Utah announced a $743K grant boost for Utah export businesses.

Labour & Public Contracting: SEIU Local 2 rallied outside Crosslinx headquarters in Toronto to demand Dexterra Group be held accountable over alleged hidden contracts, wage cuts and worse working conditions for janitorial staff at Eglinton Crosstown LRT stations. Business Brokerage: Sunbelt Business Brokerage (Regina) won a 2026 Consumer Choice Award in the Business Brokers category, highlighting valuation and end-to-end deal support across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Retail Tech for SMBs: ASUS launched Canada back-to-school deals, including Education Store pricing (up to 50% off with ID.me) and storewide discounts up to C$1,650 through Aug. 20. Payments & AI in the Enterprise: FingerMotion said it’s buying a 9.9% stake in Lyken.AI to enter enterprise cloud/GPU compute, while SalesCloser secured a new U.S. patent for AI appointment scheduling. Digital Advertising Measurement: DoubleVerify expanded independent media quality measurement on TikTok Pangle across the U.S. and international markets, including Canada. Local Business Growth: SPXChart released a real-time market structure visualization tool for everyday traders via spxchart.io. Foodservice Industry: Restaurants Canada named its 2026 Awards of Excellence winners, to be honoured Sept. 29 in North York.

B.C. Tax Fight: A B.C. legislative committee is urging the province to back down on a planned PST expansion that would add sales tax to professional services like accounting, architecture and engineering, after business groups warned it will raise costs for small firms and consumers. Franchise Growth: Purebread bakery & café has launched a franchise partner program, starting in British Columbia, aiming for 30 locations in 3–5 years and building on a commissary model. SMB Tech & Fraud: FinovateFall 2026 is spotlighting 12 fintechs working on fraud, risk and compliance tools—signals that smaller financial players are pushing harder on trust and security. Construction Demand: Bird Construction reported record Q2 revenue above $1B and a record $6.1B backlog, while North American Construction Group posted 23% higher revenue and stronger adjusted EBITDA. Energy & Jobs: Northland Power says its offshore wind and battery buildout is on track, including first power in Poland, while Birchcliff Energy added a new natural gas marketing hub and updated 2026 guidance.

Childcare Policy Clash in Alberta: ACE backed CFIB’s push for Alberta to fix the Child Care Affordability Grant, saying it’s creating an uneven playing field that’s pushing licensed preschool operators out. Small-Business Pressure from Transit: Vancouver’s West Broadway retailers and restaurants report steep drops in foot traffic and closures as construction and a new six-month vehicle shutdown disrupt business. Export Shock from U.S. Tariffs: CFIB research says two in five Canadian exporters to the U.S. are selling goods hit by proposed 50% tariffs on some CUSMA-compliant products, with most expecting revenue declines. B.C. Confidence Edges Up, Growth Still Weak: CFIB’s Business Barometer shows B.C. small-business confidence improving in July, but outlook remains subdued and cost pressures stay high. Local Housing Partnership: Yonge Street Mission and U of T’s Housing Justice Lab announced a partnership tied to ELEV8, a mixed-income project aimed at tackling affordability and homelessness. Entrepreneurship Support for Youth: Community Futures Meridian’s Youth Side Hustle Program helped young participants launch and fund small ventures with training in planning, branding, and pricing. New Clinic Opens in Winnipeg: SimplyHear launched in St. Vital with a focus on making hearing care more affordable and accessible.

Downtown Boost: Winnipeg and Manitoba are putting $1.4M toward a new Storefront Success grant program, offering eligible businesses up to $200,000 to improve downtown storefronts and help new shops open and grow. Payments Deal: RBC and BMO agreed to sell Moneris to Francisco Partners for about C$2B, a major shift for Canada’s merchant payments market that still needs regulatory approval. Air Canada & Loyalty: Air Canada announced a $2.5B minority equity investment in Aeroplan led by Blackstone and La Caisse, with Air Canada keeping control—aimed at funding bond repayment and share buybacks. SME Tech for Finance Teams: Three Link Solutions launched ExpenseGuard on the Workday Marketplace to flag expense report anomalies and speed up high-risk reviews. Energy & Growth Signals: Westport’s Cespira joint venture reported 125% Q2 revenue growth on LNG HPDI demand, while Cavvy Energy raised 2026 guidance after strong Q2 operating results. Local Business Hiring/Jobs: A new employment hero survey says Canadian SMEs are optimistic for fall but more disciplined on hiring and AI investment.

Retail Tech Push: National Retail Solutions says its POS now directly integrates with Uber Eats in the U.S. and Canada, letting independent merchants sync inventory in real time and route delivery orders through one workflow. SME Hiring & AI Mood: A new Employment Hero survey finds Canadian SMEs feel optimistic for fall, but are more disciplined on hiring and AI spending. Restaurant Finance Funding: MarginEdge closed an $80M Series D to expand AI and restaurant-focused finance tools for more than 13,000 restaurants. Franchise Recognition: PatchMaster, a drywall repair and painting franchise, was named to Entrepreneur’s “Best of the Best” list. Local Growth in Canada: Aqua-Tots opened its first Québec location in Île-Perrot to expand swim lessons. Business Sales & M&A: A R Business Brokers won a 2026 Consumer Choice Award for business brokerage and M&A advisory. Capital Markets Watch: CUSIP Global Services reports corporate identifier requests rose in July while municipal request volume slowed. Canadian Market Snapshot: Circana says Canadian prestige beauty sales rose 6% in the first half of 2026, with hair leading growth.

SME Hiring & Growth: The National Business League named remoting.work its official global hiring platform, aiming to help small businesses in Canada and the U.S. tap vetted international talent as hiring and retention remain major pain points. Local Marketing for Tourism: Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is running a free digital media workshop (Aug. 27) to help tourism operators tell their story online with a content plan and audience-focused guidance. Arctic Trade & Entrepreneurship: Virginia Mearns, Canada’s Arctic ambassador, will keynote the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet, with the event also kicking off a Kivalliq Entrepreneurship Program focused on financial literacy and bookkeeping. Business Financing & Capital Markets: Finning priced $300M of 4.231% senior unsecured notes due 2031, while Onex Partners completed its acquisition of AirSprint, expanding the fractional jet operator’s ownership. Tech & Operations: Draganfly reported Q2 results with revenue up 26% year over year, and Proficient Auto Logistics agreed to buy Hansen & Adkins to build a larger finished vehicle logistics network across the U.S. and Canada.

Local Permits Fight: Vancouver Farmers Market is asking the City to stop treating its year-round markets like a special event and move to long-term permits, saying the current annual process adds uncertainty for the small farms and vendors that drive about $18M in direct sales. Youth Entrepreneurship: UVic’s Kidovate program is bringing a pop-up market to Victoria’s Ship Point, giving young entrepreneurs a chance to sell, meet customers, and learn business basics through a structured mentorship model. Quebec Mining Funding: NioBay won a $500,000 Quebec grant to advance processing work at its Crevier niobium and tantalum project, using non-dilutive support to push hydrometallurgical optimization. Mental Health Tech for Helplines: Crisis Text Line acquired Aselo, an open-source contact center platform, aiming to help crisis services worldwide handle calls, texts, chat, and social media in one system. Canada-Nigeria Air Links: Canada and Nigeria expanded their air transport agreement to enable direct flights, with up to 14 weekly passenger and 10 weekly cargo services, a potential boost for trade and tourism. Financing for Small-Business Growth: Global FinTech funding hit $6.29B across 124 deals in July, including large rounds in small-business finance and revenue-based lending.