Canada’s staples economy refers to an economic structure that has historically been based on the extraction, production, and export of natural resources or “staples” such as fur, fish, timber, wheat, and minerals. From the early days of European settlement, Canada’s economic development was closely tied to the availability and exploitation of these natural resources. The fur trade, which emerged in the 17th century, played a crucial role in shaping Canada’s early economy, establishing trade networks and alliances between European settlers and Indigenous peoples. The Hudson’s Bay Company, for example, became a dominant force in the fur trade, reflecting the importance of staples as the foundation of economic activity. This reliance on staple commodities created a pattern in which the Canadian economy was oriented toward export markets, primarily in Europe, rather than domestic industrialization in the early periods of settlement. As the country developed, timber and fish became increasingly important staples. Timber exports, particularly in the 19th century, were driven by growing demand from Britain for shipbuilding and construction, while the fishing industry supported both local communities and international trade. The wheat economy, centered in the Prairie provinces, became another key component of the staples economy, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wheat exports linked Canada to global markets, particularly Britain, and influenced patterns of settlement, transportation, and social organization in the western regions. Minerals and later energy resources such