Canada's October trade numbers reveal an interesting story. A C$583M deficit might sound manageable on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll see precious metals are essentially keeping the country afloat. Strip away gold and bullion exports? The deficit explodes to C$8.2B. This isn't just statistics — it's a stark reminder of how heavily Canada's trade balance now depends on global appetite for gold and other precious metals. When global investors hunt for safe-haven assets, Canada wins. When that demand softens, watch out.