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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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Fireworks from Yacht Spark Forest Fire in Greece: 13 Arrested

 

Thirteen crew members and passengers have been arrested in Greece after fireworks launched from a yacht allegedly sparked a forest fire on the island of Hydra. The blaze, which occurred on Saturday, burned through the island’s only pine forest in the remote area of Bisti.

Despite the challenging conditions, firefighters managed to bring the flames under control. Accessing the beach by sea and using helicopters to drop water from the air, they successfully contained the fire. However, the incident has caused outrage in Greece, especially given the ongoing wildfires and the country’s first heatwave of the year.

Hydra’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, expressed indignation, stating, “We are indignant that some people so irresponsibly throw fireworks into a pine forest.” Social media users have also criticized the yacht’s passengers, with one person describing them as “rich people with more money than brains.”

Greece remains on high alert for wildfires, and authorities are preparing for a challenging summer due to dry conditions, strong winds, and high temperatures. Last Friday, a volunteer firefighter tragically lost his life while battling a fire in the southern region of Ilia on the Peloponnese peninsula. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, to climate change. Additionally, Greece has grappled with arsonists, with stricter laws now in place to combat such behavior.


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