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Monday’s CPI Could Decide Your Next Mortgage Payment

  Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September. Inflation is sitting at 3%. The Bank of Canada has to decide on October 28 which of those facts matters more, and on Monday morning one more number lands to help it choose. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage, a HELOC or a renewal this winter, that number has a price tag. Two reports pulling in opposite directions The jobs data came first. Statistics Canada reported on October 9 that employment fell by 68,000 in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.5% from 6.4%. It followed a drop of about 42,000 in August, which means more than half of the 181,000 jobs gained between April and July have now been wiped out. Ontario shed 20,000 positions on its own. Markets reacted within hours: the odds of a quarter-point Bank of Canada hike on October 28 dropped to roughly 25% from about 40%, according to LSEG data reported by Reuters. Inflation is telling the opposite story. The consumer price index rose 3.0% year over year in August, matching Ju...

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Claudia Sheinbaum Makes History as Mexico’s First Female President

 



In a historic landslide victory, Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as Mexico’s first female president. The official electoral authority reported preliminary results showing that the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City secured between 58% and 60% of the vote in Sunday’s election. This remarkable win gives her an impressive lead of nearly 30 percentage points over her main rival, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez.

A Trailblazing Career

Before her presidency, Sheinbaum held influential positions, including being the mayor of Mexico City. Her tenure as mayor was pivotal, paving the way for her presidential bid. Born to Jewish maternal grandparents who fled the Nazis in Bulgaria and with paternal roots in Lithuania, Sheinbaum’s diverse heritage reflects Mexico’s rich cultural tapestry.

Sheinbaum’s academic background is equally impressive. She studied physics and earned a doctorate in energy engineering. Her expertise in climate change and energy consumption patterns led to her appointment as secretary of the environment for Mexico City during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s mayoral term. In 2018, she became the first female mayor of Mexico City, serving until 2023 when she stepped down to run for president.

Promising Continuity

In her victory speech, Sheinbaum assured voters: “I won’t fail you.” She pledges to build upon the “advances” made by outgoing President López Obrador, her mentor. Her supporters celebrated at the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, waving banners that read “Claudia Sheinbaum, president.”

A Sea Change for Women in Mexico

The election marked a significant moment for women in Mexico. Both front-runners were women, and Edelmira Montiel, 87, expressed her gratitude: “Before, we couldn’t even vote, and when you could, it was to vote for the person your husband told you to vote for. Thank God that has changed, and I get to live it.” Women gained the right to vote in national elections only in 1953, making Sheinbaum’s victory even more meaningful.

Despite the celebration, the campaign was marred by violent attacks. Nevertheless, Sheinbaum’s win shatters the political glass ceiling, ushering in a new era for Mexico and inspiring generations of women to come.

Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency promises progress, continuity, and a historic moment for gender equality in Mexico. As she steps into her role, the nation watches with anticipation, hopeful for positive change under her leadership.

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