Mental health in the workplace has become an increasingly important topic for organizations across Canada. Yet, one issue remains widely under-discussed: men's mental health. While the stigma around mental health is declining overall, many men still face significant barriers to seeking support. Cultural expectations around masculinity, self-reliance and emotional control can make it difficult for men to acknowledge mental health challenges or ask for help.
Caregivers are the invisible workforce within your organization; employees who balance their primary job with what amounts to a second, unpaid full-time job. According to the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, caregivers provide an average of 5.1 hours of care daily, which is nearly equivalent to another full-time job.1
My friend Tania was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. While dressing for work, she noticed something didn’t look right. Then she felt it —a tiny, stony presence beneath her skin. Weeks later, Tania had her diagnosis and treatment plan confirmed for breast cancer—surgery, chemo and radiation, and this involved months off work.
Senior Portfolio Manager David Mann discusses findings from a recent Japan due diligence trip, highlighting the massive catch-up potential in digital transformation, Japan’s critical role in the global AI supply chain, and the impact of a weakening Chinese economy on regional competition.
Annual update discusses potential headwinds for the Canadian and U.S. economies in 2026 as well as projections for corporate bond spreads in the new year, and how AI spending will continue to impact the debt markets.
Although tariff uncertainty still exists, we recognize some pockets of growth and resilience in global equities. We will continue to monitor tariffs and geopolitical developments, however, there are some emerging global themes that leave us feeling encouraged.
As we head into the new year, tariff and trade uncertainty remain a key issue. There has been some real progress through 2025, but an agreement has remained elusive between the U.S. and some of its key trading partners (such as Canada and Mexico), and we have seen flareups and cool-downs in trade tensions with China.
Uncertainty around tariffs remains a sticking point for the Canadian economy as 2025 comes to an end. The banking sector has maintained resilience as we close out the year, and gold has continued to rally. The S&P/TSX was one of the strongest indices in the developed market, up nearly 30%1, with sectors such as Materials, and Financials leading the way.
2025 was a year of transition characterized by both global uncertainty and resilience. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and trade tensions drove market volatility throughout the year, and we expect these uncertainties to carry over into the new year. However, there are a number of emerging themes that leave us feeling encouraged.
As we turn the page to 2026, our focus remains on navigating challenges and uncovering opportunities that drive long-term growth.
Here are some of the global themes we believe will impact markets in the new year.
Join Paul Holba, President and CIO, Empire Life Investments Inc., as he navigates the 2026 market outlook where geopolitical volatility and persistent inflation persist, while AI drives growth, and key themes emerge across fixed Income, equities, and the rise of "Global Champions".
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