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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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Unprecedented Heatwaves Highlight Urgent Climate Crisis

 

In recent months, numerous regions around the globe have been grappling with record-breaking heatwaves, underscoring the escalating impacts of climate change. From North America to Europe, Asia, and beyond, temperatures have soared to unprecedented levels, causing widespread concern among scientists and the public alike.

In the United States, Death Valley experienced temperatures exceeding 125°F (51.7°C) for nine consecutive days in early July, while Las Vegas shattered its all-time heat record at 120°F (48.9°C). Similarly, Europe has faced extreme heat, with countries like Spain and Greece enduring prolonged periods of high temperatures, exacerbating the risk of wildfires.

The situation is equally dire in other parts of the world. In Saudi Arabia, over 1,000 people succumbed to the heat during the Hajj pilgrimage, as temperatures soared to 125°F (51.8°C) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s hospitals have been overwhelmed by heat-related illnesses amid frequent power outages and water shortages.

These extreme heat events are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend driven by climate change. The global average temperature has been steadily rising, with each of the past 13 months setting new records for that month. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the planet experienced its hottest day in at least eight decades on July 21, only to break that record again the following day.

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to warm the Earth’s atmosphere, the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are expected to increase. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for global action to mitigate climate change and adapt to its inevitable impacts.


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