Daily Canadian tech news: telecom, policy, startups, AI and what launches actually cost here.https://thecircuit.ca/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-25-weekend-briefing/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-25-weekend-briefing/The week in Canadian tech: EA shuts its Edmonton studio, Rogers bills get a 1.6% card fee, Ottawa details its VC money and proposes stablecoin rules.Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMTDaily BriefingTelecomGamingStartupsPolicyAIhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-questrade-extended-hours-options/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-questrade-extended-hours-options/Approved options traders can place limit orders on select U.S. stocks and ETFs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., using Cboe's longer hours.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMTFintechhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-avi-lewis-bioware-workers/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-avi-lewis-bioware-workers/After EA shut the Edmonton studio, Lewis called for federal support to help its workers take it over. Ottawa has been quiet.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMTGamingPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-dayforce-acquires-ribbon-ai/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-dayforce-acquires-ribbon-ai/The HR software giant, itself being taken private by Thoma Bravo, picks up a three-year-old startup that has run more than a million AI screening interviews.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMTStartupsAIhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-ontario-digital-id-consultations/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-ontario-digital-id-consultations/Consultations start this year on a phone-based Photo Card first, with driver's licences and health cards to follow, plus a law protecting physical ID.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTPolicySecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-iphone-duo-canada-cost/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-iphone-duo-canada-cost/Apple's first foldable launches today. Here's what it costs outright, on each carrier, and to fix, and why most pre-orders won't ship until January.Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTDeviceshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-freedom-mobile-manitoba-plans/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-freedom-mobile-manitoba-plans/New plans start at $40 for 125GB, and some undercut Freedom's own Ontario and B.C. pricing. A Winnipeg network build is next.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMTTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-crtc-approves-bell-roaming-tariff/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-crtc-approves-bell-roaming-tariff/The updated wholesale tariff adds negotiation and arbitration terms. It doesn't set new rates, but it's the plumbing for cheaper roaming deals.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMTTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-cymax-commercebear-shut-down/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-cymax-commercebear-shut-down/Burnaby's Cymax and Toronto's CommerceBear both built tools for selling furniture online. Both appear to have closed amid a sales slump and tariff pressure.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMTStartupshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-neo-financial-credit-union-facility/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-neo-financial-credit-union-facility/The Calgary fintech's new warehouse facility funds its credit card lending, after a year that cost it Tim Hortons, The Bay and 10% of its staff.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTFintechStartupshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-ontario-otc-hearing-aids-airpods/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-ontario-otc-hearing-aids-airpods/A coming law change lets adults with mild hearing loss skip the prescription, so earbuds with hearing-aid features could finally be used as one.Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTDevicesPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-hive-series-b-frontier-growth/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-hive-series-b-frontier-growth/Frontier Growth leads a mostly secondary Series B in the profitable live-event marketing company, buying out its first institutional investor.Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMTStartupshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-crime-stoppers-tips-leak/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-crime-stoppers-tips-leak/A CBC investigation found 25 years of tips stolen from Crime Stoppers' software vendor. More than 850,000 include personal information.Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-ccts-complaints-up-79-percent/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-21-ccts-complaints-up-79-percent/The CCTS has received more than 53,000 complaints so far this year. Incorrect charges and price increases top the list.Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMTTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-20-carriers-want-crtc-protections-scrapped/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-20-carriers-want-crtc-protections-scrapped/In filings to the CRTC's consumer code review, the Big Three ask for a 60-day phone lock, longer financing and an end to bill-shock protections.Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTelecomPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-19-publishers-sue-anthropic/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-19-publishers-sue-anthropic/Postmedia, Torstar, the Globe and The Canadian Press say Claude was built on their journalism without a licence. Meanwhile, thousands have signed a petition against the Nova Scotia project.Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAIPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-17-apple-watch-hypertension-canada/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-17-apple-watch-hypertension-canada/Health Canada updated Apple's licence in September, and owners of the Series 12 and Ultra 4 are starting to see the feature.Sat, 17 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMTDeviceshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-16-nintendo-store-toronto/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-16-nintendo-store-toronto/A 1,500-square-foot Nintendo space opens Oct. 17 inside the EB Games flagship on Yonge Street.Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMTGaminghttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-16-waymo-toronto-2028/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-16-waymo-toronto-2028/The robotaxi company will map and test in Toronto first, learning snow, streetcars and cyclists before going driverless.Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTAIhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-vglx-canada-gaming-convention/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-vglx-canada-gaming-convention/Canada makes plenty of games but has no PAX or Gamescom. The second VGLX runs Oct. 24-25 in Mississauga, with tickets from $20.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMTGaminghttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cyber-centre-ai-shopping-scams/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cyber-centre-ai-shopping-scams/New guidance flags fake storefronts, lookalike URLs and AI shopping assistants that can't tell a real seller from a fake one.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cse-ottawa-data-centre/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cse-ottawa-data-centre/A Defence Construction Canada notice points to a new Ottawa-area facility for the Communications Security Establishment.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMTSecurityPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cohere-to-acquire-aisle/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-cohere-to-acquire-aisle/The Toronto AI company signed a letter of intent for Aisle, founded by ex-Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek, to sell security tools to governments and businesses.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMTAISecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-citizen-lab-adfection-spyware/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-15-citizen-lab-adfection-spyware/U of T researchers say Candiru spyware infected Al Jazeera devices through targeted ads shown on nearly 200,000 sites and apps, including CBC.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-14-eastlink-5g-standalone/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-14-eastlink-5g-standalone/The regional carrier's Nokia-built core upgrade follows $30 million in network spending over the past year.Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMTTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-14-csafe-anti-fraud-exchange/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-14-csafe-anti-fraud-exchange/The new Cross-Sector Anti-Fraud Exchange links Bell, Rogers and Telus with six major banks to spot repeat scammers faster.Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSecurityTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-13-apple-home-lineup-canada/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-13-apple-home-lineup-canada/HomeView and the Apple TV 4K are $429 each, and the HomePod mini 2 is $199. Siri AI works in Canada in English only.Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMTDeviceshttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-12-koho-prediction-markets/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-12-koho-prediction-markets/Daniel Eberhard won't add betting-style prediction markets as Koho, Canada's newest fintech unicorn, closes in on a bank licence.Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMTFintechhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-07-ised-cell-tower-rules/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-07-ised-cell-tower-rules/ISED's proposals would give municipalities 45 days to object, exempt small towers from consultation, and require roaming and tower sharing.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTTelecomPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-02-rogers-completes-mlse/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-02-rogers-completes-mlse/The Leafs, Raptors, TFC and Argos join the Blue Jays and Sportsnet under a new Rogers Sports unit.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMTTelecomhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-25-carney-diversify-from-starlink/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-25-carney-diversify-from-starlink/The prime minister wants allied satellite options instead of reliance on Elon Musk's SpaceX. That's easier said than done in rural Canada.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTTelecomPolicyhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-23-bell-cohere-cybersecurity-model/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-23-bell-cohere-cybersecurity-model/The domain-specific model, trained on Bell Cyber's data, goes inside Bell's security operations centre to speed up investigations.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMTAISecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-23-us-border-phone-searches-ruling/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-23-us-border-phone-searches-ruling/A Second Circuit ruling removes the reasonable-suspicion bar for device searches at the U.S. border. Here's what Canadian travellers should know.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTPolicySecurityhttps://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-16-carney-sovereign-broadband-backbone/https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-09-16-carney-sovereign-broadband-backbone/Ottawa will help finance a coast-to-coast network with direct links to Europe and Asia. Most Canadian internet traffic currently detours through other countries.Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMTTelecomPolicy