2026 in Canada
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The Crown
Federal government
Provincial governments
Lieutenant Governors
- Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – Salma Lakhani
- Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia
- Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – Anita Neville
- Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – Louise Imbeault
- Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador – Joan Marie Aylward
- Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – Mike Savage
- Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – Edith Dumont
- Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – Wassim Salamoun
- Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Manon Jeannotte
- Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Bernadette McIntyre
Premiers
- Premier of Alberta – Danielle Smith
- Premier of British Columbia – David Eby
- Premier of Manitoba – Wab Kinew
- Premier of New Brunswick – Susan Holt
- Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador – Tony Wakeham
- Premier of Nova Scotia – Tim Houston
- Premier of Ontario – Doug Ford
- Premier of Prince Edward Island – Bloyce Thompson (until February 9); then Rob Lantz
- Premier of Quebec – François Legault (until April 15); then Christine Fréchette
- Premier of Saskatchewan – Scott Moe
Territorial governments
Commissioners
- Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Gerald W. Kisoun
- Commissioner of Nunavut – Eva Aariak
- Commissioner of Yukon – Adeline Webber
Premiers
Events
January
- January 1 – The Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct enters into effect.[4][5]
- January 4 – The Canada Revenue Agency says it is owed more than $10 billion CAD in COVID-19 benefits and had disbursed $83.5 billion in COVID benefits to Canadians as of November 30, 2025, and had been repaid more than $4 billion.[6][7][8]
- January 5
- Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints former deputy prime minister and incumbent federal MP Chrystia Freeland as an economic development adviser, with Freeland announcing that she would resign as the Member of Parliament (MP) for University—Rosedale in the coming weeks.[9][10]
- 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships: Canada defeats Finland 6-3, winning the bronze medal.[11]
- Premier of Ontario Doug Ford announces that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario will cease sales of Crown Royal in February 2026, advising people to "stock up".[12]
- A Ontario court rules that Premier Ford must release his personal cell phone logs.[13]
- January 5–6 – Carney travels to Paris, France to participate in peace negotiations with members of the coalition of the willing regarding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and meets with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen.[14][15][16]
- January 7 – Ubisoft closes Ubisoft Halifax, impacting 71 positions.[17]
- January 9 – Chrystia Freeland resigns her seat as MP for University—Rosedale.[18]
- January 11 – Team Canada unveils the 2026 Olympic figure skating team.[19][20]
- January 12 – A new Urgent Care Centre opens in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[21][22]
- January 12–17 – Carney travels to China to meet with president Xi Jinping, premier Li Qiang and other government leaders for the first visit to China by a sitting Prime Minister since 2017.[23][24]
- January 13 – Statistics Canada announces 850 job cuts, with over 100 to happen in the following days.[25]
- January 14 – François Legault announces his pending resignation as Premier of Quebec and leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, triggering a leadership election.[26]
- January 15
- A Canadian citizen dies in Iran amid protests according to Global Affairs.[27]
- Former Ubisoft Halifax workers reveal the company had since 2017 received over 977$ million CAD in tax breaks from the NS government,[28] on the same day workers filed a complaint and the Government of Nova Scotia says it is "deeply concerned".[29]
- January 16 – Canada reaches a trade deal with China that eliminates or lowers Chinese tariffs on canola and other products, with Canada allowing the import of a limited quantity of Chinese-made electric vehicles into the country.[30][31][32]
- January 17 – A protest organized by Aaju Peter occurs in Iqaluit in solidarity with the protests occurring in Denmark and Greenland.[33]
- January 18 – Carney travels to Qatar to meet with emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.[34]
- January 19–21 – Carney attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, giving a speech and meeting with government and business leaders.[34]
- January 22 – Alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding is arrested in Mexico after being on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives since 2025.[35][36]
- January 24 – U.S. President Donald Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canada over the country’s potential deal with China.[37]
- January 26 – Carney announces a suite of affordability measures, including a revamp to the GST/HST credit by renaming it the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, boosting it by 25 per cent for a period of five years, and providing an additional one-time top-up payment equivalent to 50 per cent of the 2025-26 total amount. Additionally announced were measures targeting Canada's food security, such as a $500 million allotment from the "Strategic Response Fund" to businesses along with various other measures.[38]
- January 27
- The State Council of South Korea approves the sharing of military intelligence with Canada.[39]
- Canada reaches an agreement with India to expand the export of oil and gas to the country.[40]
- January 28
- South Korea and Canada sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the auto sector, intended to bring the manufacturing of South Korean vehicles to Canada as well as to encourage South Korean investment in the country.[41]
- Two people are killed in a shooting at the Cree Nation of Mistissini in Quebec.[42]
- January 29 – Trump threatens to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian-made aircraft such as those manufactured by Quebec company Bombardier Inc. subsidiary Bombardier Aviation as well as to have the Federal Aviation Administration decertify said aircraft, based on the alleged lack of certification by Transport Canada of certain aircraft manufactured by American aircraft company Gulfstream Aerospace.[43][44]
- January 29–31 – Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre undergoes a leadership review at the 2026 Conservative convention in Calgary to determine whether he has the support of party members to continue leading the party following its defeat in the 2025 Canadian federal election,[45] earning 87.4% support from delegates.[46]
February
- February 2 – Bill Blair resigns his seat as MP for Scarborough Southwest due to his appointment to the role of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom by Carney.[47][48]
- February 5
- Carney announces a new strategy for Canada's automotive sector, eliminating the Electric Vehicle Availability Standards (EVAS) system implemented under the previous government led by former Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and re-introducing sale rebates for electric vehicles (EVs) priced under $50,000 that are sold in Canada, alongside $3 billion being allocated from the Strategic Response Fund to help the sector withstand the various impacts suffered as a result of the tariffs enacted in the second Trump administration.[49][50]
- Authorities announce the arrest of eight serving and retired members of the Toronto Police Service as part of an organized crime investigation involving bribery, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking.[51]
- 2026 Winter Olympics: The Canadian women's hockey team postpones a game with Finland due to an outbreak of norovirus.[52][53]
- February 6 – Greenland crisis: Canada announces that it will open a consulate in Greenland to reinforce support for Denmark against US president Donald Trump's threats to annex the territory.[54]
- February 7
- February 9 – Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba over a shortage of jet fuel.[55]
- February 10
- Canada approves the first oral self test for HIV.[56][57]
- Trump threatens the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, and remarks that the US should be "fully compensated for everything" it has given to its northern neighbour, and that Ottawa "treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve".[58]
- WestJet suspends flights from Winnipeg to Atlanta and Nashville, Tennessee, citing drop in demand.[59]
- February 10 – Nine people are killed in a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.[60]
- February 11 – Airlines Air Transat and WestJet suspend flights to Cuba due to the fuel shortage.[61]
- February 13 – After no other candidates qualified, Charles Milliard is acclaimed as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party following its leadership election.
- February 15 – 2026 Winter Olympics: Team Canada faces cheating allegations from Team Sweden's curling team.[62]
- February 17 – China grants visa-free entry for 30 days to citizens of Canada.[63]
- February 18 – Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jeneroux defects from the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party.[64]
- February 19 – Danielle Smith announces the 2026 Alberta referendum is scheduled for October 19, 2026.[65]
- February 20 – US tariffs on Canada were found unlawful by Supreme Court of the United States [66]
- February 23 – The 2026 Chicoutimi provincial by-election is held.
- February 27–March 8 – 2026 Montana's Brier is held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
March
- March 2
- Canada and India sign multiple deals in multiple areas and sectors, totaling $5.5 billion CAD, with a goal to sign a more comprehensive trade deal by December.[67]
- Ottawa issues travel advisories for 13 nations in the Middle East due to the 2026 Iran war.[68]
- March 3–4 — Carney travels to Australia, where he addresses the Parliament of Australia and meets with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.[69][70]
- March 6
- Japan and Canada sign a strategic agreement to enhance cooperation in the defense, economy and energy sectors.[71]
- Carney endorses the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession over his involvement in the Epstein scandal.[72]
- March 8
- Carney calls by-elections scheduled for April 13 in the ridings of Scarborough Southwest, University-Rosedale and Terrebonne.[73]
- Canada wins its first gold medal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.[74]
- March 10 – Two gunmen open fire at the US consulate in Toronto. No injuries are reported.[75]
- March 11 – Nunavut MP Lori Idlout defects from the New Democratic Party to the Liberal Party.[76]
- March 12
- Carney announces a CA$35 billion investment plan for defence and infrastructure in the Northern Canada region.[77]
- The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announces the elimination of fees when consumers cancel, activate, or upgrade a cellular service plan, scheduled to take effect on 12 June 2026.[78]
- March 13 – The US expands trade-related investigations, including a trade probe, into Canada in addition to 59 other countries.[79]
- March 17 – Doug Armstrong announces he is stepping down as general manager of the Canada men's national ice hockey team [80]
- March 22 – Two people are killed and 41 are injured after an Air Canada jet flying from Montreal collides with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.[81]
- March 26 – The National Assembly of Quebec passes a motion for Michael Rousseau, the CEO of Air Canada, to resign for his unilingual response to the crash of Air Canada Express Flight 8646. All parties vote in favour of the motion.[82]
- March 27 – Sony announces a price increase of 200$CAD of the base PlayStation 5 console and PS5 Pro and PlayStation Portal to go in effect in April [83][84]
- March 29 – Avi Lewis is elected as leader of the New Democratic Party.[85]
- March 30 – Michael Rousseau, the CEO of Air Canada, resigns.[86]
April
- April 2 – The National Assembly of Quebec passes government Bill 9, expanding on its secularism law Bill 21 and barring wearing religious symbols for daycare workers and prayer spaces in public institutions. The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and Parti Québécois vote in favour of the legislation, while the Liberals and Québec Solidaire vote against it.[87][88]
- April 8 – Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu defects from the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party.[89]
- April 12 – Christine Fréchette is elected as leader of the CAQ.[90]
- April 13 – By-elections are held in Scarborough Southwest, University-Rosedale and Terrebonne, with the Liberal Party winning all three contests and resulting in the first majority Liberal government since the 2015 Canadian federal election.[91]
- April 15 – Christine Frechette is appointed Premier of Quebec, following Legualt's resignation.[citation needed]
- April 27 – Carney announces the creation of Canada's first sovereign wealth fund, the Canada Strong Fund, with an initial endowment of $25 billion over a three-year period.[92]
Scheduled events
May
- The Alberta Prosperity Project has until May 2 to get enough signatures for a petition for a referendum on Alberta separatism to be successful. The organization intends to hold a referendum in October 2026.[93][94]
- The 2026 Canadian census is scheduled to take place.[95]
- May 30 – 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election
June
- June 11 – July 19 – 2026 FIFA World Cup[96]
September
- September 24 – October 4 – Calgary International Film Festival
October
- By October 5 – 2026 Quebec general election
- October 7 – 2026 Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election[97]
- October 19 – 2026 Alberta referendum
- October 26 – 2026 Toronto municipal election
November
- November 15 – The 113th Grey Cup will be played in Calgary, Alberta.
Art and entertainment
Holidays
- January 1 – New Year's Day
- February 17 – Family Day
- April 3 – Good Friday
- May 18 – Victoria Day
- July 1 – Canada Day
- September 7 – Labour Day
- September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- October 12 – Thanksgiving Day
- November 11 – Remembrance Day
- December 25 – Christmas Day
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