FIVE BUSINESS EVENTS TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Environment Ministers Meet:

The federal and provincial environment ministers meet Monday in Montreal, where they will kick off negotiations on a plan to meet Canada's international climate commitments.

Electricity Conference:

The Canadian Energy Research Institute hosts an annual conference in Calgary about electricity. The two-day gathering that begins Monday will grapple with a number of issues, including carbon pricing and the impact electric vehicles could have on the power grid.

Real Estate:

On Tuesday, Vancouver's real estate figures for September will be released. Housing market watchers are keen to know whether the 15-per-cent tax for foreign buyers is having its intended effect.

Softwood Lumber:

The softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the U.S. could heat up this week. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman is coming to Canada for meetings to discuss the issue. The previous softwood lumber agreement expired Oct. 12 of last year and with the expiry of a one-year grace period looming, concerns are growing that Canada's lumber industry could be hit with high tariffs in the U.S.

Jobs Report:

The job figures for September come out Friday. The labour force survey has been a mixed bag as of late. In August, the economy generated 26,200 net new jobs, but the unemployment rate crept up to 7 per cent as more people started looking for work.