The Canada Infrastructure Bank has signed a $100-million deal with the First Nations Bank of Canada to help Indigenous communities borrow money to build infrastructure.

Indigenous business leaders say a wave of economic development for their communities is rolling across Canada, and they predict that the Indigenous economy will surge to $100 billion a year within a few years. At a conference in Toronto, they discussed how that will happen.

A new report from the Business Development Bank of Canada says an alarming decline in the number of Canadian entrepreneurs could hurt economic growth and slow innovation. It estimates the country has 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs today than it had in 2000.

A new accelerator program called Soar aims to help five Indigenous entrepreneurs turn their already successful businesses into big-name brands and earn five times more revenue in just one year. Experts and business leaders say these success stories inspire others and help First Nations communities achieve economic independence.

With venture capital funding plunging and Black founders historically facing greater challenges than others raising money, tech incubator programs in Canada are trying to help Black owned startups succeed. The objective of incubators like the Black Innovation Programs at Toronto Metropolitan Universitys DMZ is to help Black-owned tech companies hone their ideas, find mentors, and connect with investors.

With sexually transmitted infections surging toalarming levels in Canada and the U.S.over several years, a number of female entrepreneurs have movedinto the condom industry, intent on making change.

With office vacancy rates at high levels in several Canadian cities and a shortage of housing, the idea of turning old empty offices into apartments or condos is attracting attention. Experts say the concept is good, but its not a fix all to solve complex housing issues.