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BoC Opens the Door to Rate Hikes: What It Means for Your Mortgage

  Published September 4, 2026 The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on September 2 — the seventh straight hold — but Governor Tiff Macklem didn't sound like a central banker done for the year. He told reporters the Bank is "prepared to raise interest rates, and if it takes more than one increase, we're prepared to do that," if inflation stays too high. That's a real shift in tone, and it lands right as a wave of Canadians hit their mortgage renewal date. Here's what changed, who's forecasting what, and what it actually means for your payment. Why the Bank Suddenly Sounds Hawkish Canada's annual inflation rate has climbed to around 3% — a full point above the Bank's 2% target — and the Bank is pointing squarely at energy prices. Oil has stayed elevated because of the Iran conflict and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gas prices up and dragging headline CPI with it. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is still s...
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Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs): A Safe Bet for Steady Returns



If you’re looking for a low-risk investment option, Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) could be a good choice. A GIC is a savings product that works like a loan you make to a financial institution. You receive a guaranteed rate of interest, but your money is typically locked into the account for a pre-determined amount of time, which can range from 30 days to 10 years. The longer the term, the higher the interest rate you’ll receive. Interest can be paid out either monthly, quarterly, annually or at maturity. At the end of the term, you are paid back your full principal, plus any interest still owing. However, if you withdraw your money early, you might have to pay a penalty.

GICs are considered very safe investments and are popular among investors who want a safe option that will deliver somewhat higher interest returns 1. Your principal (and often the interest) are usually guaranteed by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), though the insurer can change depending on who you take the investment with and which province you live in. Amounts up to between $100,000 and $250,000 are covered, depending on your home province.

There are several different types of GICs available in the market. Fixed-rate GICs pay a predetermined interest premium each term and are ideal if you’re comfortable locking up your money for set periods of time. Variable-rate GICs link interest payments to a fluctuating benchmark, usually the institution’s prime rate. Redeemable GICs (or cashable GICs) are a good bet if you think you might need to withdraw your money before the end of the term, as they don’t charge a penalty. Equity-linked GICs link interest payments to the performance of an underlying stock market index and offer potentially higher returns than fixed-rate GICs but come with more risk.

The current interest rates for GICs vary depending on the financial institution and the term length of the GIC. As of October 25, 2023, the highest 1-year GIC rate is 5.98% offered by WealthONE Bank of Canada .  The highest 2-year GIC rate is 5.78% offered by WealthONE Bank of Canada. The highest 3-year GIC rate is 5.52% offered by VersaBank. The highest 4-year GIC rate is 5.35% offered by BMO Bank of Montreal. The highest 5-year GIC rate is 5.30% offered by Motive Financial, National Bank of Canada, and LBCDigital.ca.

Please note that these rates are subject to change and may not be available in all provinces. It’s always a good idea to shop around and compare rates from multiple financial institutions before making a decision.




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