The Bank of Canada has decided to maintain its policy rate at five per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting. In a significant shift, the bank explicitly stated that there won't be a need for further increases if the economy aligns with its forecasts. Governor Tiff Macklem and other policymakers opted for this expected pause, citing data indicating a stalled economic growth that is expected to remain slow in the near term. The objective is to bring inflation back to the bank's... [read more]

Amidst the surge in real estate activity driven by historically low interest rates during the pandemic, particularly in the pre-construction market across Canada, a concerning trend has emerged. Doug Hoyes, an insolvency trustee at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc., highlights a "double whammy" effect contributing to difficulties faced by an increasing number of homebuyers in finalizing their purchases. As interest rates, which were lowered to 0.25% by the Bank of Canada in... [read more]