New zero-emission vehicle registrations rise year-over-year
Canadians registered 397,601 new motor vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease of 6.9% from the first quarter of 2025 and a decrease of 3.7% from the fourth quarter of 2025. On February 16, 2026, the federal government launched the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program. In the same quarter, 43,113 new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) were registered, representing 10.8% of all new motor vehicle registrations during the quarter and an increase of 15.8% relative to the first quarter of 2025. Among provinces, new ZEV registrations increased year over year in Quebec (+42.1%), Manitoba (+36.8%), Saskatchewan (+22.1%), Ontario (+5.0%) and British Columbia (0.7%) in the first quarter of 2026.
Exports to the United States increase for a third consecutive month
In April, Canada's merchandise exports increased 1.6%, while imports edged up 0.3%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade surplus with the world widened from $1.8 billion in March to $2.7 billion in April, the largest surplus since January 2025. Exports to the United States rose 4.8% in April, increasing for a third consecutive month. Exports of crude oil and passenger cars and light trucks drove the monthly increase. Meanwhile, exports to countries other than the United States fell 4.8% in April.
Source: Canadian international merchandise trade, April 2026
Average asking rent declines in the first quarter
In the first quarter of 2026, the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $2,150, down 0.9% from the first quarter of 2025, when the figure was $2,170. Over the same period, average asking rent for two-bedroom apartments decreased in most major Canadian metropolitan areas. In the first quarter of 2026, asking rent averaged $2,660 in Toronto (-1.1%), $1,900 in Montréal (-1.6%), $3,100 in Vancouver (-2.2%) and $2,350 in Ottawa–Gatineau (Ontario part) (-5.6%).
Health care demand continues to outpace capacity
In current dollars, total capital expenditures in the health care and social assistance sector grew from $13.5 billion in 2022 to $20.7 billion in 2026, representing an average annual growth of 7.4%. While gross domestic product in the health care and social assistance sector grew by nearly 20% from 2021 to 2025, pressures on the system remain evident. The number of hospital beds in Canada increased by about 4.5% from 2014 to 2023, while the population grew by more than double that rate (+12.7%). As a result, hospital bed availability fell from 261 beds per 100,000 population in 2014 to 240 per 100,000 in 2023.
Source: Why is health care spending increasing, and what is changing inside the system?
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).