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1 in 4 Canadians Can Only Afford the Minimum Payment on Their Credit Card

  Published August 24, 2026 · Canadian Money Brief A new survey from Equifax Canada puts a hard number on something a lot of us have felt creeping up all year: credit cards are doing more of the heavy lifting in Canadian budgets, and fewer people are paying them off. Of more than 1,500 Canadians surveyed, a quarter said they expect to make only the minimum monthly payment on their credit card, and another 7% think they'll fall behind entirely. That leaves just over half — 56% — who expect to pay their balance in full each month. The survey also found that 40% of respondents are spending more overall than they were a year ago, more than double the 18% who say they're spending less. Nearly 3 in 10 said they're leaning more heavily on credit cards to cover essentials like groceries and utilities, and close to a quarter are dipping into savings to keep up with everyday costs. More than a third have cut back on contributions to savings, investments, or education funds to make ro...
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New Ontario real estate rules give sellers more options

 

Ontario has introduced new rules for real estate transactions that aim to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers. The rules, which took effect on Friday, include the following changes:

  • Open bidding option: Sellers can now choose to disclose the prices of submitted bids to potential buyers, instead of keeping them secret. This is supposed to make the bidding process more transparent and fair, but it is not mandatory. Some experts say open bidding could reduce overbidding and lower prices, while others say it could have the opposite effect or harm sellers’ interests.
  • Designated representation: Buyers and sellers can now choose a designated representative from the same brokerage, instead of being subject to multiple representation. This means that the agent can advocate more actively for their client, instead of acting as a facilitator with limited advice. This is supposed to avoid conflicts of interest and improve the quality of service.
  • Improved disclosures: Brokers and brokerages have to provide more information to their clients, such as their role, duties, and fees. They also have to give them an information guide from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the regulatory body that oversees the industry. RECO also has new enforcement tools to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
  • Amended code of ethics: Agents have to follow an updated code of ethics that reflects the new rules and promotes professionalism and ethical conduct.

The new rules are part of Phase 2 of the changes under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, which was passed in 2019. The federal government has also promised to end blind bidding as part of its home buyers’ bill of rights, but it is still consulting with stakeholders.

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