Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
Canada is in the midst of an "investment crisis," according to a business group. The Business Council of Canada said prosperity cannot be built by taking on more debt, as the Liberals are planning to do. CEO Goldy Hyder said: "We recognize the difficult starting point and the need for upfront investments, but that should be underwritten by meaningful year-over-year reductions in the absolute deficit."
Canada in ‘investment crisis’ business council says in federal budget submission https://t.co/NmgzxqpeDC
— insauga (@insauga) October 1, 2025
A majority of Canadians aged 18 to 24 believes Canada "belongs" to First Nations people, according to a new poll. The Leger survey found that 38 per cent of all age groups believe the same thing, while 43 per cent disagree. Separately, 50 per cent of people born outside Canada said they agree Canada is "first and foremost" the possession of First Nations, while among Canadian-born the figure was 36 per cent.
About one in three Canadians say country belongs to Indigenous people: poll. https://t.co/pLKIyfB10D
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) September 30, 2025
Both Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson have expressed disappointment after US-owned firm Imperial Oil said it's planning to lay off about 20 per cent of its workforce by 2027. Smith said the development is due to "uncertainty" in the industry following 10 years of being "hampered and hobbled by federal government decisions." With more pipelines, she added, there's hope of getting people "re-employed in this sector."
Canadian energy minister disappointed by Imperial Oil’s planned layoffshttps://t.co/rEKOsKwbOJ pic.twitter.com/0l78tHeIAz
— Edmonton Sun (@Edmontonsun) October 1, 2025
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is heading to India and China in the coming weeks as she attempts to repair Canada's relationships with the world's two largest countries. "There are ways to co-operate, and there is every reason to continue to support multilateral institutions," she said, signalling a different approach to the countries than the one pursued by her former boss, Justin Trudeau, who was accused by some critics of being too aggressive.
“Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is off to India and China in the coming weeks, where she plans to take two distinct approaches to mending frayed ties with the world's two most populous countries.” https://t.co/Ogaw9bw1Hz
— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) October 1, 2025
In more Alberta news, Danielle Smith has defended her decision to keep the province's minimum wage the lowest in Canada (at $15 an hour) once again. She said Alberta's lack of a provincial sales tax helps offset low wages. It comes after Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and PEI all boosted their minimum wages today.
Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will not be raising the minimum wage because doing so will continue to hurt youth employment.
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 30, 2025
She points to the NDP for raising the min wage previously and blames them for Alberta currently having the worst youth unemployment rate in Canada pic.twitter.com/8VBHX9VB8c
