It was the seventh consecutive monthly trade deficit, but significantly lower than the revised Can$1 billion deficit registered in the previous month.
Exports increased 1.0 percent, led by farm products, to Can$38.1 billion while imports fell 1.2 percent to Can$38.3 billion, said Statistics Canada.
Canadians sold more soy, canola, crude oil and crude bitumen abroad, as well as more unwrought nickel and nickel alloys, unwrought, basic and semi-finished aluminum and aluminum alloy products.
Foreign sales of iron ores and concentrates, and copper ores and concentrates were down.
Exports of aircraft also fell 26.3 percent in October.
Imports of pharmaceutical and medicinal products were up but imports of lubricants and other petroleum refinery products, unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys, and communications and audio and video equipment fell.
Imports from the United States, Canada's largest trading partner, rose 1.6 percent to Can$24.6 billion and exports edged down 0.2 percent to Can$27.4 billion.
Consequently, Canada's trade surplus with the United States decreased to $2.8 billion in October.