# Ontario opens the door to AirPods as hearing aids, Ottawa details its VC money, and 1Password grows

> OTC hearing aids in Ontario, the $750-million VC breakdown, 1Password passes $500M USD, Neo's credit line, Bell's roaming rules and Freedom in Manitoba.

- Published: 2026-10-23T11:00:00.000Z
- By: The Circuit Staff
- Type: Daily Briefing
- Topics: Daily Briefing, Devices, Startups, Telecom, Fintech
- URL: https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-23-briefing/

Here's what happened in tech yesterday.

## 1. Ontario will allow over-the-counter hearing aids

Ontario plans to let adults with mild hearing loss buy hearing aids without a prescription, which opens the door to earbuds like AirPods Pro being used as hearing aids. [Read the full story](https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-ontario-otc-hearing-aids-airpods/)

**Why it matters:** Earbuds people already own could stand in for an expensive first hearing aid.

## 2. Ottawa details its $750 million in VC money

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said $675 million of the envelope targets later-stage companies and $75 million goes to pre-seed and seed, [BetaKit reports](https://betakit.com/feds-reveal-breakdown-of-750-million-vc-funding-envelope-open-growth-vcci-applications/). A separate $1-billion fund-of-funds program opened for applications.

**Why it matters:** It's aimed squarely at the Series B gap, where Canadian startups tend to stall or sell.

## 3. 1Password passes $500 million USD in annual revenue

Toronto's 1Password says its annual recurring revenue topped $500 million USD (about $702 million CAD), with demand for securing AI agents driving faster growth, [BetaKit reports](https://betakit.com/1password-tops-500-million-usd-arr-on-the-back-of-accelerating-ai-demand/).

**Why it matters:** "Passwords for AI agents" is turning into a real business.

## 4. Neo Financial lines up $185 million

ATB Financial and four credit unions are backing a $185-million credit line for Neo's card lending. [Read the full story](https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-neo-financial-credit-union-facility/)

**Why it matters:** It's a vote of confidence from Canadian lenders after a rough year for Neo.

## 5. CRTC approves Bell's new roaming rules

The updated wholesale tariff adds negotiation and arbitration terms for smaller carriers that roam on Bell's network. [Read the full story](https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-crtc-approves-bell-roaming-tariff/)

**Why it matters:** Cheaper roaming deals help regional carriers compete on price.

## 6. Freedom Mobile boosts Manitoba plans

New Manitoba plans start at $40 for 125GB, ahead of Freedom building its own network there, starting in Winnipeg. [Read the full story](https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-freedom-mobile-manitoba-plans/)

**Why it matters:** A carrier with its own towers competes harder on price.

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**One more thing:** Two e-commerce companies that sold furniture online, Burnaby's Cymax and Toronto's CommerceBear, have reportedly shut down. [Read the full story](https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-10-22-cymax-commercebear-shut-down/)