Good day,

Sorry for the late submission. Technology defeated me today.

But to start the week off right, let’s get into some politics, trade pressure, technology and a couple of lighter Canadian stories that may surprise you.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called three federal byelections for August 31.

According to Elections Canada, voters will head to the polls in Beaches East York in Ontario, Chicoutimi Le Fjord in Quebec and North Vancouver Capilano in British Columbia.

All three votes are being held to fill vacant seats in the House of Commons.

The elections will also give Canadians another look at the political mood in three very different parts of the country.

The Liberals will be looking to defend two seats previously held by their party, while the Conservatives will try to hold Chicoutimi Le Fjord and make gains elsewhere.

Because the government’s majority is so narrow, even a small number of seats can affect how comfortably the Liberals can pass legislation and manage committees.

Side Note: Byelections are local races, but their results are often treated as an early report card on the government.

The federal Conservatives are calling for an emergency meeting of the House of Commons international trade committee.

They want Prime Minister Mark Carney to explain how his government plans to respond to Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats against Canada.

According to The Globe and Mail’s reporting, the Conservatives are also asking the government to provide a written plan outlining its strategy.

The demand puts Carney in a difficult position.

Canadians have a right to know how Ottawa plans to protect jobs and businesses. However, governments usually avoid publicly revealing every part of a negotiation because it could weaken their position across the table.

The bigger question is whether Ottawa has a clear plan ready if negotiations fail, including possible support for affected industries and workers.

Side Note: There is a difference between asking the government to explain its overall plan and demanding that it reveal every private negotiating position.

Wall Street just bet billions on a small collection of stocks.

And after a volatile first half of 2026, it looks like they’re about to shift even more.

MarketBeat’s updated 10 Best Stocks to Own in 2026 report reveals the 10 names attracting fresh capital right now.

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A new study suggests driverless taxis may already be safer than human drivers in certain American cities.

Researchers with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that Waymo’s fully driverless vehicles were involved in 68 per cent fewer police reportable crashes per kilometre travelled than human drivers.

The study looked at Waymo vehicles operating in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Austin.

Researchers also found fewer crashes involving injuries and fewer single vehicle crashes.

However, the findings come with important limits.

The research only examined Waymo, not every company developing driverless vehicles. The amount and quality of available crash data also varied by city.

Austin was one exception, where Waymo’s crash rate was slightly higher, but researchers said the sample there was much smaller.

The results are encouraging, but they do not prove that every driverless car is safer in every situation.

Side Note: Driverless taxis are not widely operating in Canada, but the technology could eventually affect insurance, taxi jobs, public transit and road safety rules.

Montreal oceanographer Gwenn Duval is taking on an unusual solo journey along the St. Lawrence River.

As CTV Montreal reported, she plans to sail roughly 400 kilometres in a small wooden boat.

It is a much different experience from travelling in a large modern sailboat.

A smaller vessel offers less protection, less storage and less room for equipment. The sailor must also pay close attention to changing weather, currents and large commercial ships using the St. Lawrence.

The trip is a personal challenge, but it also highlights the scale and importance of one of Canada’s most recognizable waterways.

Side Note: A 400 kilometre journey is roughly the driving distance between Toronto and Ottawa, except this trip will be completed alone on the water.

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A Regina business has gained widespread attention through an unusual combination of a scooter, a slogan and a recognizable local personality.

The CBC story shows how a simple idea can sometimes travel much further online than a polished advertising campaign.

Small businesses often cannot compete with large companies on marketing budgets.

They can compete by being memorable, showing the real people behind the company and giving customers something they want to share.

The viral attention can bring new customers through the door, but the long term challenge is turning that moment into repeat business.

Side Note: Going viral can introduce thousands of people to a company. Keeping those customers still depends on the product and service.