Time for your cheat sheet on this week’s top stories.
Canadian Real Estate
Canadians Still Leaving At Near Record Pace Echoing 90s “Brain Drain”
Canada may be attracting immigrants, but it’s failing to keep its citizens and permanent residents (PRs). In Q2 2026, nearly 25,000 Canadians emigrated—permanently relocated to a new country—marking the third-highest outflow of any Q2 in the past 71 years. This is a trend that’s also led to higher annual volumes, compounded by fewer Canadians returning. The outflows echo volumes only seen during the country’s “Brain Drain” eras.
Most Canadian Households Now Run A Deficit To Meet Inflation: BoC
Research from the Bank of Canada (BoC) reveals the kids are not alright. Neither are middle-aged households, homeowners, those with modest incomes—the majority actually. Between 2020 and 2025, households saw their disposable income outpace spending, on average. However, the average hides the fact that most households have seen their expenses outpace their annual income, and now run deficits. While StatCan’s measures show relatively “low and stable” inflation, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Canada’s Huge Population Revisions Reveal A Much Worse Economy
The latest population estimates are out for Canada, but the real insight was in the prior revision. The country’s population grew 0.2% (+80,300 people) to 41.8 million in Q3 2026. In addition, Q2 was roughly 300,000 people higher than previously reported, after the agency changed how it measures non-permanent residents. Despite policymakers promising a freeze on immigration-driven population growth, it turns out that really wasn’t the case.
Most Canadian Parents Now Subsidize Their Adult Children’s Basic Living Costs: RBC
Most parents (51%) now help their adult children (ages 18-40) with basic living costs, according to a new RBC report. Parents are forking over an average of $6,151 annually in support, with 56% providing funds for groceries and 24% for rent. The problem remains disturbingly sticky for those ages 35-40, with 43% of these middle-aged adults getting help with groceries. It’s not due to financial mismanagement either, but a large share of parents blame the high cost of living in the country.
Canadian Debt Hits $3.29 Trillion As Distress Borrowing Surges
Canadian household debt reached $3.29 trillion in July, rising 4.2% (+$131.4 billion) from last year. Annual mortgage credit growth slowed to 4.0%, one of the lowest levels in 27 years. Meanwhile, consumer credit (non-mortgage) accelerated to 4.7%, and now outpaces mortgage growth. Just a few weeks prior, consumer credit rating behemoth TransUnion warned that households are carrying larger debt loads as they try to “smooth consumption.” For those who left their bankster-to-English dictionary at home, that means households are borrowing to make ends meet.
