Voyageur 156
Canadian Passport Keeps Its Muscle, and Inflation Keeps Following Retirees.
News for residents of the “11th province”: Canadians abroad.
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Canadian Passport Keeps Its Muscle
Canada's passport moved up to seventh in the Henley Passport Index, with access to 183 destinations without any need to get a visa in advance. The U.S. is 180, which is not a massive gap, but it is still a gap. Tiny passport bragging rights are still passport bragging rights.
The best part of the news is to find out where the access changes. CIC News says Canadians have been able to enter China visa-free for stays up to 30 days since February, while Americans still need a visa. For Canadians outside Canada, that is the sort of boring little rule that can make a route, a layover, or a last-minute work trip more interesting.
The same story also shares another practical detail, which is that since April 1, Canadian passport applicants are entitled to receive their passport within 30 business days or have the application fee waived.
Read more: CIC News
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Inflation Keeps Following Retirees
Retirement is supposed to mean fewer surprises, but it sees like inflation didn’t get the memo.
The Globe and Mail's Rob Carrick laid out the squeeze from semi-retirement. His property taxes rose 3.75 per cent, condo fees rose 1 per cent, property insurance was up 3.5 per cent, and his natural gas bill jumped 15 per cent. Gasoline was also up nearly 30 per cent year on year, which hits when family care means regular trips between cities.
CPP benefits rose 2 per cent for 2026, and the Bank of Canada's inflation calculator puts a 2025 basket of goods at $102.80 in 2026. OAS changes four times a year, and some pensions and dividend stocks help, but retired people have fewer ways to earn their way out of rising costs.
If you’re relying on CPP, OAS, RRSPs, rental income, or a return home, you may want to keep your spreadsheet of cash flows up to date.
Read more: The Globe and Mail