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The Bank of Canada Warns of Higher Inflation: What It Means for Your Money

  The Bank of Canada Warns of Higher Inflation: What It Means for Your Money October 29, 2026 | Canadian Money Brief Canadians could face another year of rising living costs. Here's how to protect your savings, manage your grocery bill and make smarter financial decisions. If you thought inflation was finally becoming yesterday's problem, the Bank of Canada's latest forecast delivers an important reminder: the cost of living could remain under pressure well into next year. In its October 28, 2026, Monetary Policy Report, the Bank of Canada warned that inflation is expected to remain above 3% through much of 2027 before gradually returning close to its 2% target by the middle of 2028. Higher energy prices, rising import costs and trade uncertainty are contributing to the outlook. The Bank also raised its overnight policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.50% in an effort to contain inflationary pressures. For Canadian households, the message is clear: even if inflation eve...

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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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