Global Scans · Canada · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The U.S. and Canada's new governments will have their work cut out dealing with potential changes to their trade agreements while simultaneously Canada will be anxious to implement CETA with the EU.

• [New] The NIA report cites research from The Alzheimer Society of Canada that estimates 772,000 Canadians currently live with dementia, a figure that's projected to grow to 1.7 million by 2050. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
• [New] Budget 2025 proposed legislation and ongoing funding of $216.6 million per year starting in 2029-30 for Employment and Social Development Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to make the National School Food Program permanent. JD Supra
• [New] Today's announcement builds on government investments in defence, infrastructure, and Northern development to strengthen and secure Canada's presence in the Arctic and unleash the North's economic potential. Prime Minister of Canada
• [New] Canada will supply 23.6 million barrels of oil and ramp up natural gas exports in the coming months as part of an international effort to help stabilize energy markets being upended by the Iran war. financialpost
• [New] Thirty million dollars in top-up funding for Nutrition North Canada will make food and essential items more affordable in 124 isolated northern communities. Annie Koshy
• [New] Canada will build two new Northern Operational Support Hubs in Whitehorse and Resolute and two additional support nodes in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet, backed by an investment of $2.67 billion. Suman Das
• [New] The Canadian Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the globe, with permafrost thaw and sea-level rise posing direct threats to infrastructure. Ainvest
• [New] The new Defense Industrial Strategy aims to embed more Canadian companies into global value chains, a shift that could yield long-term economic returns beyond the initial build. Ainvest
• [New] As part of a commitment to a clean, innovative, and inclusive transportation system, Transport Canada will launch the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program as part of Canada's new Automotive Strategy. Transport Canada
• [New] In 2026-27, total planned spending (including internal services) for Transport Canada is $3,940,442,707 and total planned full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) is 6,434. Transport Canada
• [New] Transport Canada will launch and deliver federal programming to make Canada's economy more resilient, trade more competitive, and self-reliant. Transport Canada
• [New] Canada-Gulf investment decisions are increasingly turning into completed deals, creating real opportunities for Canadian companies looking to grow beyond North America. JD Supra
• [New] The European Space Agency's I-HAB module, the Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm3 robotic arm, and SpaceX's Dragon XL logistics vehicle will progressively expand Gateway into a multi-national, commercially serviced outpost. Rise of the Black Dragon
• [New] Canada's 23% incident rate is the lowest, but 40% of Canadian respondents identify changes to Canada-U.S. data sharing as their top concern and 21% flag the U.S. CLOUD Act as a direct sovereignty threat. Kiteworks | Your Private Data Network
• [New] Ottawa is forced to confront an abrupt disruption to Canadian manufacturing and a direct challenge to Canada's ability to sustain its own commercial policy choices. Policy Options
• [New] By embracing the latest agritech innovations, Canada not only meets rising food demand but leads the world in responsible, data-driven agricultural management - even as the ecological and marketplace risks intensify. Farmonaut
• First jets arrive in 2026 for training, with Canadian deployment starting in 2028. Spherical Insights
• Young Canadians are and will be key players in Canada's transition to a net-zero-emissions economy. SenCanada
• Developing a national health strategy for women, supporting more research on women and investing in the fem tech industry could make Canada a global leader. SenCanada
• Better-connected health data is also expected to drive major efficiencies, with estimates suggesting $9.4 billion in annual savings from reduced duplication, fewer missed appointments and more effective use of resources. / Canada SenCanada
• Canada and Mexico will be exempt from the new Section 122 tariffs, due to their North American trade pact with the U.S. Digiday
• Opposition to pipeline development, alongside Impact Assessment legislation that empowers the federal government to review the environmental, social and economic impacts of major projects, has created conditions where an interprovincial pipeline in Canada has borne an unacceptable political risk. The Narwhal

Last updated: 18 March 2026