As Canadian manufacturers move production to the U.S., Professor Saibal Ray explains that Canada needs to accept a trade deal with the U.S. soon
Four in 10 Canadian manufacturers have either moved to the U.S. or considered doing so as of July 2026 as a direct result of Trump administration tariffs. Aeris Protective Packaging Inc., a Montreal-based manufacturer, opened a plant across the border to continue to serve their U.S. customers, which make up 70% of their clientele, amid 50% tariffs on paper and packaging.
Schwartz’s goes local amid rising tariff costs
As U.S. tariffs disrupt supply chains, Montreal’s Schwartz’s Deli has replaced its longtime Cott’s Black Cherry Soda with Fleischer’s, a made-in-Quebec alternative.
Tariffs expose the need for stronger Canadian supply chains
Canadian businesses are reworking supply chains as renewed trade tensions raise the threat of tariffs. The Unscented Company, a maker of cleaning and home products, estimates tariffs could cost it $150,000 by year-end and is accelerating shipments to the United States.
Canada seeks stronger trade ties beyond the U.S.
As Canada faces the threat of 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on billions of dollars in exports, Ottawa is looking to reduce its long-term dependence on its largest trading partner. Saibal Ray, professor of supply chain management at McGill Desautels, says expanding trade relationships in Asia and other markets could strengthen Canada’s resilience over time.
Goodfood restructuring highlights meal kit market pressures
Montreal-based meal kit company Goodfood has received creditor protection as it seeks a buyer or new investment amid mounting debt and liquidity pressures. The company, which recently lost its CEO, plans to continue restructuring while serving customers.
McGill Desautels researchers secure $4 million in SSHRC funding
McGill Desautels researchers secured $4 million in funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s (SSHRC) 2025 and 2026 competitions. Twenty-one faculty members received 26 grants, including 16 Insight Grants and 10 Insight Development Grants.
Rim Hariss awarded NSERC Discovery Grant for retail operations research
Professor Rim Hariss is one of 122 McGill researchers awarded funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Discovery Grants competition, announced July 7 as part of a $30-million investment in McGill research.
McGill Desautels faculty honoured at Bravo Gala 2026
McGill University's annual Bravo Gala takes place on Thursday, May 7, celebrating research excellence and recognizing faculty members and researchers who have received awards, memberships, and prizes over the past year. McGill Desautels is proud to celebrate three distinguished faculty members among this year's honourees:
High oil prices will push up grocery prices
Tensions in the Middle East have sent global oil prices soaring, and Canadians are already feeling the impact at the gas pump. Higher gasoline prices, however, may be only the first effect.
In the oil crisis, the price at the pump could be opportunistically high
The war in the Middle East has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gasoline prices higher worldwide. In Canada, prices have surged even though the country does not import oil that travels through the strait. The reason is that oil is traded on a global market, meaning prices rise and fall everywhere at the same time.
Desautels doctoral research recognized for excellence
Nymisha Bandi’s doctoral thesis has been recognized for its excellence by the Group for Research in Decision Analysis (GERAD). Her research was co-supervised by Professors Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray, who nominated her work in the best doctoral thesis category of the 11th GERAD Scholarship Competition.
Fuel inventories have help mitigate oil price spikes
The war in Iran is pushing up gas prices, adding pressure on Quebec drivers. However, prices at the pump have been volatile rising, falling, and then climbing again.
One factor behind this uneven pattern is gasoline inventories held by energy companies, explained Saibal Ray in an interview with Le Devoir. These reserves can temporarily absorb spikes in oil prices.
Spiking oil prices will increase grocery prices
Oil is used for transportation, packaging and fertilizer. It is essential to the global economy, and when its price spikes, just about everything gets more expensive. With global supply throttled by conflict in the Middle East, Quebecers will likely feel the pinch, most noticeably at the grocery store.
Generative AI changes which job types are vulnerable to automation
Artificial intelligence is expected to reshape the labour market, but its impact won’t be felt evenly across all types of jobs. In Quebec, roughly 59 per cent of jobs are considered highly exposed to AI—meaning the technology is likely to change how people work rather than eliminate roles outright.
Having gender-neutral restrooms at event venues can improve equity and efficiency
For transgender people, choosing which restroom to use at a public event can be a fraught decision, but having gender neutral or all-gender restroom options can help. According to Assistant Professor of Operations Management Setareh Farajollahzadeh, having gender neutral restroom options at major event spaces like stadiums and theatres could help.
