Wayne Ferreira defeated Todd Woodbridge in the final, 6–2, 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1996 Canadian Open.

Andre Agassi was the two-time reigning champion, but did not compete that year.^[1]

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated. The top eight seeds received a bye to the second round.

	Semifinals							Final
		Todd Woodbridge	6	6
	4	Marcelo Ríos	0	3
									Todd Woodbridge	2	4
								3	Wayne Ferreira	6	6
	3	Wayne Ferreira	4	6	7
	7	Todd Martin	6	3	5

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								1	T Muster	3	5
	Q	M-K Goellner	64	4				WC	D Nestor	6	7
	WC	D Nestor	77	6											WC	D Nestor	62	64
	WC	S Lareau	6	6												T Woodbridge	77	77
	WC	J Robichaud	1	4				WC	S Lareau	3	6	1
		T Woodbridge	6	7					T Woodbridge	6	4	6
	15	M Woodforde	3	5																			T Woodbridge	7	6
	10	A Boetsch	6	5	2																		M Philippoussis	5	4
		A Gaudenzi	4	7	6				A Gaudenzi	3	6	1
		B Ulihrach	7	7					B Ulihrach	6	4	6
		H Gumy	5	5												B Ulihrach	3	4
		S Schalken	3	4												M Philippoussis	6	6
		M Philippoussis	6	6					M Philippoussis	6	3	78
								8	M Rosset	3	6	66

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								4	M Ríos	6	6
	Q	K Carlsen	6	6				Q	K Carlsen	3	2
		J Burillo	2	0											4	M Ríos	6	6
		B Karbacher	4	6	3											D Vacek	4	3
		D Vacek	6	4	6				D Vacek	5	77	713
		T Carbonell	1	0				13	J Stoltenberg	7	61	611
	13	J Stoltenberg	6	6																		4	M Ríos	0	77	6
	11	A Berasategui	6	6																			P Rafter	6	64	1
		F Dewulf	4	0				11	A Berasategui	1	2
		P Rafter	78	6					P Rafter	6	6
		C Costa	66	2												P Rafter	6	6
		G Forget	3	6	3										6	M Washington	2	1
		À Corretja	6	3	6				À Corretja	4	2
								6	M Washington	6	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								5	T Enqvist	6	6
		J Sánchez	77	77					J Sánchez	3	4
	Q	S Draper	65	65											5	T Enqvist	6	6
		P Korda	3	6	6											P Korda	3	4
	Q	N Godwin	6	0	4				P Korda	6	6
	Q	M Hadad	4	4				12	F Clavet	3	4
	12	F Clavet	6	6																		5	T Enqvist	5	2
	14	P Haarhuis	2	6	67																	3	W Ferreira	7	6
		T Henman	6	2	79				T Henman	w/o
	WC	S Leblanc	4	3					C Woodruff
		C Woodruff	6	6												T Henman	4	4
		J Björkman	1	7	3										3	W Ferreira	6	6
		J Novák	6	5	6				J Novák	5	3
								3	W Ferreira	7	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								7	T Martin	77	6
		C Ruud	1	3					R Furlan	63	3
		R Furlan	6	6											7	T Martin	2	6	6
	Q	G Carraz	6	6											9	C Pioline	6	2	4
	Q	M Knowles	4	0				Q	G Carraz	61	4
		N Kulti	4	2				9	C Pioline	77	6
	9	C Pioline	6	6																		7	T Martin	6	6
	16	M Gustafsson	3	65																		SE	A O'Brien	4	4
	SE	A O'Brien	6	77				SE	A O'Brien	77	6
		B Black	77	3					B Black	62	2
		J Hlasek	64	1r											SE	A O'Brien	3	6	3
		M Tillström	6	1	6											M Tillström	6	2	6
	LL	J Renzenbrink	3	6	3				M Tillström	63	6	6
								2	G Ivanišević	77	4	4

• 1996 du Maurier Open draw