Weekly Opportunities in Canada: August 31 to September 6, 2026

Back-to-school discounts, a federal privacy settlement, a $100 Alberta rebate and the final Canada Strong Pass weekend remain available. There is also a Toronto condo draw closing Wednesday and a $27,000 graduate scholarship competition opening the same day.

Here are the strongest opportunities to check this week.

1. Back-to-school deals worth checking this week

The first week of September is often when the shopping list becomes real. A child needs a backpack that was forgotten in July, a student discovers they need a laptop, or a new renter realizes that a desk and storage are not optional after all.

Canooq's back-to-school essentials guide compares 30 Canadian-available picks across backpacks, lunch gear, calculators, headphones, chargers, study tools and dorm basics.

Staples: supplies from 22 cents and laptop discounts

Staples Canada's current back-to-school offers include school supplies from 22 cents, up to 30% off backpacks, up to 40% off writing supplies, up to 25% off select binders and savings of up to $450 on laptops and desktops.

The sale listing currently runs into the first week of September, but selection and prices can change quickly. A low headline price can become less attractive once storage, a charger, software or a protection plan is added.

Staples is also advertising up to a $200 Staples gift card when activating a new phone on an eligible two-year Bell or Virgin Plus plan at participating stores. The gift card comes with an eligible two-year Bell or Virgin Plus plan, so its value depends on the plan's monthly cost and device-financing terms.

See the Staples Canada back-to-school page for the current products and conditions.

Apple: up to a $210 gift card with education pricing

Apple's 2026 university and college offer runs through September 24. Eligible purchasers can receive an Apple Gift Card when buying a qualifying Mac or iPad through the Canadian Education Store:

• $140 with an eligible MacBook Air
• $210 with an eligible MacBook Pro
• $140 with an eligible iPad Air or iPad Pro

The gift card is applied as part of the promotion, not as unrestricted cash. Check that the exact model qualifies before checkout, and count the card as a saving only if you would otherwise use it for Apple products or services.

Apple is also advertising education pricing on other devices, Apple Creator Studio for $3.99 per month for students and educators, Apple Music's student plan with Apple TV included, and up to 10% off AppleCare+ for eligible Mac and iPad purchases.

The official Apple education terms list the eligible products, dates and restrictions.

RBC: AirPods 4 with an eligible student account

Students can open an RBC Advantage Banking account for students and receive AirPods 4 if they meet the offer conditions. The account has no monthly fee for eligible full-time students and includes unlimited debit transactions in Canada.

The account must be opened by November 2, 2026. By January 15, 2027, the student must complete two qualifying activities, such as setting up a recurring direct deposit, making a pre-authorized payment, completing a bill payment, registering for Interac Autodeposit and sending or receiving an e-Transfer, or making a qualifying purchase with RBC Virtual Visa Debit.

The offer is more useful for a student who actually wants an RBC account. Do not open a bank account for headphones alone without checking what happens when student status ends and whether the regular monthly fee will apply later.

RBC also includes three months of Apple Music for new subscribers who receive the AirPods. After that period, the subscription renews unless cancelled.

Read the RBC student account and AirPods terms before applying.

IKEA: 15% back on qualifying wardrobe purchases

Students, newcomers and renters setting up a new room can get 15% back in IKEA gift cards on eligible wardrobe purchases over $250. The offer is available to free IKEA Family members from August 27 to September 16, 2026.

This is most useful when you already need a wardrobe or storage system. The gift card is not a reason to spend $250 on furniture that was not in the budget, and the offer cannot necessarily be combined with every other promotion.

IKEA Family members can also access rotating food offers and earn points on purchases. See the current IKEA Canada offers before visiting because inventory and store selection vary.

2. Enter Wealthsimple's first September condo draw by Wednesday

Wealthsimple's September Monthly Millionaire contest is giving away five Toronto condos, one each week.

The first draw closes September 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The prize is an unfurnished one-bedroom condo at The Georgian in Toronto, with an approximate retail value of $635,700. The draw is scheduled for September 3.

New and existing clients can enter through an eligible Wealthsimple Chequing account. The account must hold at least $1, and registration provides 500 entries. Additional entries can be earned through qualifying deposits and other promotional actions.

There is also a no-purchase entry method. Under the official rules, an entrant can submit an original essay of at least 100 words on how they would grow their wealth with $1 million.

The condo must be accepted as awarded. There is no cash alternative. The winner can eventually live in it, rent it or sell it after the title has been transferred, subject to the contest terms and applicable laws.

A transfer bonus that can be combined with the draw

People already considering moving investments to Wealthsimple can also check its 1% Match promotion.

The minimum qualifying institutional transfer is $25,000. Cash deposits and Interac e-Transfers do not qualify. Eligible transfers must come from another investment institution and be initiated within 30 days after registration.

The August 31 deadline applies to a special funding ceiling. People registering by that date can receive 1% on the first $2 million transferred and 0.2% on qualifying amounts above $2 million, up to a total of $10 million.

The bonus is paid monthly over 24 months. Withdrawals beyond the permitted buffer can reduce future payments, so this is better suited to money you already plan to keep invested.

The 1% Match can be combined with the September Monthly Millionaire contest. Read both sets of official Wealthsimple promotion terms before transferring an account.

Wealthsimple

WealthsimpleUse Wealthsimple for chequing, investing and registered accounts, then register separately for the contest.$635,700 condo500 starter entriesNo purchase required

$635,700Win a Toronto condo valued atOpen Wealthsimple through Canooq, register for the September Monthly Millionaire draw and earn eligible entries through the available account activity.Open Wealthsimple

3. Use the final full weekend of the Canada Strong Pass

September 7 is the last day of the summer Canada Strong Pass.

No registration, download or physical pass is required. Visitors receive the applicable discount automatically at participating locations.

Through September 7, the program includes:

• Free admission to national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada
• A 25% discount on Parks Canada camping and overnight stays
• Free lockage at canals administered by Parks Canada
• Free or reduced admission for young people at participating museums and galleries
• Free VIA Rail travel for children 17 and under when accompanied by an adult
• Discounted VIA Rail fares for travellers aged 18 to 24

Free Parks Canada admission does not include parking, reservations, tours, hot springs, fishing licences, firewood or third-party services. Confirm operating hours before making a long drive, especially as some seasonal locations reduce their hours after Labour Day.

The official Canada Strong Pass page lists participating experiences and conditions.

4. Alberta residents can apply for a $100 rebate

Eligible Albertans can receive a one-time, non-taxable $100 Alberta Energy Rebate.

Applications remain open until September 30, but applying early leaves time to resolve account-verification or tax-information problems.

To qualify, an applicant must:

• Have been at least 18 years old on July 1, 2026
• Be an Alberta resident
• Have filed a 2025 income tax return
• Have household income of $225,000 or less

Adults sharing an address are normally treated as separate households unless they are married or in a common-law relationship. That means adult roommates, adult children and other unrelated adults may each be able to apply separately.

People receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit, AISH, the Alberta Disability Assistance Program or Income Support may be enrolled automatically. New clients who joined one of those programs after July 1 may still need to apply.

The application requires a verified Alberta.ca Account, a Social Insurance Number and, when applicable, information about a spouse or common-law partner.

Use only the official Alberta Energy Rebate portal. The province has warned about fraudulent rebate texts and will not send application links by text message.

5. A $27,000 master's scholarship competition opens September 2

The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Master's competition opens September 2.

The award is worth $27,000 for one year and supports eligible students pursuing master's studies or, in some cases, doctoral studies at Canadian institutions. The application deadline is December 1, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET.

That may sound far away, but a competitive application can require academic records, a research proposal, institutional selections and references. This week is a good time to review the competition details, confirm that the intended program is eligible and contact potential referees.

Indigenous applicants should also review the associated Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative. Eligible recipients may qualify for an additional $5,000 supplement, while other meritorious applicants may be considered for separate awards.

The competition will appear on the official federal scholarship page when it opens.

6. What the September 8 tariffs mean for shoppers and travellers

Canada will impose new counter-tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% on selected U.S.-origin goods beginning September 8 at 12:01 a.m. The measures cover approximately $27.6 billion in imports and focus on sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.

For most shoppers, the practical question is not whether a brand sounds American. It is whether the exact product is on Canada's tariff list and qualifies as U.S.-origin under the applicable customs rules.

Do you have to pay a tariff when returning from the United States?

Usually, the Canadian importer pays the tariff when commercial goods enter Canada. A retailer may later pass some or all of that cost into the selling price.

Travellers returning from the United States can also face duty, tax or a counter-tariff on covered purchases. The standard personal exemption depends on how long you were away:

• Less than 24 hours: no personal exemption
• At least 24 hours but less than 48 hours: up to $200
• At least 48 hours: up to $800

The exemption does not mean you can skip the declaration. Declare the item, keep the receipt and follow the Canada Border Services Agency's assessment.

Canooq explains the personal exemptions, U.S.-origin rules and examples in Will I pay Canada's retaliatory tariffs when I cross the U.S. border?.

How can you tell if something is really made in Canada?

A maple leaf on the package is not proof that a product was made here. The wording matters.

Look for regulated claims such as Product of Canada or Made in Canada, and check the exact product rather than assuming every item from a Canadian brand is domestically manufactured. Other clues can include certification marks, textile CA numbers, vehicle identification numbers and manufacturing codes.

Canooq's guide, 8 Ways to Tell If You're Really Buying Canadian, explains what the most useful labels and codes actually mean. A Canadian retailer or .ca website can confirm a Canadian presence, but it does not automatically prove Canadian ownership or Canadian manufacturing.

Use the Counter-Tariff Finder before a major purchase

The Canooq Counter-Tariff Finder lets you search the 874 listed tariff items, see whether a product line is included and estimate what a 15%, 25% or 50% surtax would add to a shipment.

Search terms such as refrigerator, cheese, steel, plywood, wire or electronics can help you find the relevant category. For a commercial shipment, confirm the final tariff classification and origin with a customs broker. The tool is a practical starting point, not customs advice.

If you are already planning a major appliance, electronics or equipment purchase, check the model's origin and current price this week. There is no need to panic-buy. Retail prices depend on inventory, supplier contracts, exchange rates and whether the particular tariff code appears on the federal list.

Three money updates to watch this week

The $150 Canada Disability Benefit supplement takes effect

Changes to the Canada Disability Benefit Regulations take legal effect September 1.

The amendments authorize a fixed $150 lump-sum supplement intended to help offset the cost of obtaining the Disability Tax Credit. Eligible recipients do not need to apply separately.

The government has not yet published the exact payment date. Current and certain former Canada Disability Benefit recipients may qualify, including people who previously received at least one payment.

The Bank of Canada announces its rate decision Wednesday

The Bank of Canada will announce its next overnight-rate decision on September 2 at 9:45 a.m. ET.

There is no reason to guess the outcome in advance. After the announcement, borrowers can check whether variable mortgage rates and lines of credit have changed. Savers should also compare high-interest savings accounts and guaranteed investment certificate rates, since financial institutions do not always adjust deposit rates at the same speed.

Labour Day is September 7

Labour Day is a statutory holiday across most of Canada, although the exact employment rules and retail opening hours vary by province and municipality. Expect altered bank, government and delivery schedules around the long weekend.

7. Class-action deadlines this week

Final call for Quebec tobacco claims worth up to $100,000

This is the most urgent opportunity of the week.

The deadline to submit a claim under the Quebec Class Action Administration Plan, commonly called QCAP, is August 31, 2026.

Maximum compensation depends on the illness and when the person started smoking:

• Up to $100,000 for qualifying lung or throat cancer when smoking began before January 1, 1976
• Up to $80,000 for the same cancers when smoking began on or after that date
• Up to $30,000 for qualifying emphysema or COPD when smoking began before 1976
• Up to $24,000 when smoking began on or after that date

Actual payments may be reduced if the $4.119-billion compensation fund is not large enough to pay every approved claimant the maximum amount.

Eligibility is specific. Among other conditions, the tobacco victim generally must have lived in Quebec when diagnosed, smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes sold by the participating tobacco companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998, and received a qualifying diagnosis before March 12, 2012. Estates may also qualify in certain cases.

Proactio, the official Quebec claims agent, is accepting registrations for assistance until 5 p.m. EDT on August 31. The Epiq claims administrator's online form is scheduled to remain available until midnight EDT.

Do not assume that simply registering an interest is enough. Submit through the official tobacco claims process and keep the confirmation. Free assistance is available, and claimants do not need to hire a lawyer.

Canadians can also check Canooq's class-action listings for other open settlements.

Check the new federal privacy-breach settlement

Claims are now open in the Sweet v. His Majesty the King privacy-breach class-action settlement.

The case concerns unauthorized access to Government of Canada online accounts in 2020, including CRA My Account, My Service Canada Account and other accounts accessed using GCKey.

Eligible compensation includes:

• Up to $80 for time and inconvenience when information was accessed but not used fraudulently
• Up to $200 when information was accessed and used for fraud
• Up to $5,000 for eligible out-of-pocket expenses, including unreimbursed fraud losses, identity-theft professional fees and certain credit-freeze costs

The payment portion of the settlement is limited to specific incidents. It generally covers unauthorized access during credential-stuffing attacks between June 26 and August 18, 2020, as well as certain information accessed through Represent a Client accounts between October 8 and November 25, 2020.

The claims deadline is February 3, 2027, but the eligibility checker is already available. Anyone who received a breach notice, discovered an unexpected CERB or EI application, or had a government account locked during the affected period should check now while records are easier to locate.

Claims can be submitted through the official KPMG settlement website. Payments may be reduced depending on the number of approved claims.

Information checked August 31, 2026. Program terms, availability and deadlines can change. Confirm details with the official provider before applying, transferring money or making a purchase. Canooq may receive referral compensation from some links at no extra cost to the reader.