Canada just saw one of its biggest months on record for new businesses, but just as many shut down. Statistics Canada (StatCan) data shows the number of active businesses fell in February, with the country seeing the fewest since October 2023, a 28-month low. This isn’t a one-off issue: new firms over the past year […]
Canada is seeing its total active business count hold firm, but a dramatic recomp is happening. Statistics Canada (StatCan) data shows active businesses climbed in November, even if it was a minor advance. Looking past the headline data, there are a few more problems that may not be obvious at first—such as the reliance on […]
Canada’s private-sector business environment is worse than headline data suggests. Statistics Canada (StatCan) data shows active businesses were little changed in July, but a closer look reveals the economy has seen big changes. Active business growth is increasingly concentrated in sectors dependent on public spending. The headline data has obscured reality, masking a sharp erosion […]
Canada is tripling down (quadrupling?) on its real estate-based economy. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the number of active businesses hit a new record in September. That’s the good news, which loses a little luster when examining the details. The country’s national statistics agency attributed most growth to just a handful of real estate-related […]
Canada’s reputation as an ideal environment may be more hype than reality these days. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows businesses suffered a major setback in June. The country saw the largest wave of business closures since the depths of the 2020 pandemic, when lockdowns physically restricted businesses from activity. In just one month, Canada […]
Canada’s booming population isn’t enough to save its eroding business environment. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows business growth continued to slow in February, despite the rapidly escalating population. Even more business owners are deciding to shutter their doors as unemployment rises and incentives to operate continue to fade. Canada Is Seeing Very Slow Business […]
Canada’s increasingly hostile business environment is starting to show up in the data. Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) data shows a sharp increase for business insolvencies in Q1 2024. A weak consumer combined with a soaring cost of doing business has led to a surge in businesses seeking protection from creditors. Experts warn […]
Canada’s soaring inflation and expensive real estate are weighing on its small businesses. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows a sharp drop in active businesses in June. A combination of more closures and fewer openings has wiped over a year of progress. There have been many warnings that this problem is brewing, and it’s expected […]
Canadian households aren’t the only ones feeling credit tightening. Businesses are also reporting easy money is coming to an end — and fast. That was the consensus in the Bank of Canada (BoC) Business Outlook Survey (BOS) for Q1 2022. Businesses generally reported a tightening of conditions over the past 3 months. This is often […]
Canada’s economy was briefly less dependent on real estate, but that was short-lived. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows residential investment outpaced GDP in Q4 2021. As a share of GDP, residential investment is under last year’s record, but rising quickly. An increased reliance on real estate is a trend that began over two decades […]
