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Churchill Falls: A 15% Power Bill Rebate, $10 Billion From Ottawa — What It Means for Your Wallet

  Thursday, August 20, 2026 Last Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney stood on a pier in St. John's alongside Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette to announce what Ottawa is calling the largest clean energy investment in North American history. Buried in the headline numbers — $273 billion in nominal contract value, $10 billion in federal financing, 14,000 megawatts of new hydro capacity — is a much simpler story for ordinary Canadians: who pays what for electricity, for the next 50 years. Here's what actually changed, and what it means for your bills whether you live in St. John's, Montreal, or Ajax, Ontario. The deal it's replacing was historically lopsided To understand why this is a big deal, you need the old one. Under the original 1969 Churchill Falls contract, Quebec locked in the right to buy the vast majority of the plant's power from Newfoundland and Labrador at roughly 0.2 cents per kilowatt-hour — a price th...

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Bank of Canada Poised for Significant Rate Cut Amid Economic Slowdown

 

The Bank of Canada is widely expected to reduce its key policy rate by 50 basis points next week, marking its fourth consecutive rate cut and the first substantial reduction outside of the pandemic era in over 15 years. This anticipated move aims to stimulate economic growth as the country grapples with falling prices and sluggish consumer and business spending.

The central bank’s decision, set to be announced on October 23, will likely bring the benchmark rate down to 3.75% from the current 4.25%. This follows a series of rate cuts that began in June, prompted by consistent signs of cooling inflation and weakening economic growth.

Governor Tiff Macklem has indicated that the Bank of Canada is increasingly concerned about the risks of a faltering economy and declining inflation. Recent data has shown that Canada’s GDP growth has been minimal, with a mere 0.2% increase in July and a likely stall in August. Additionally, headline inflation for September was recorded at 1.6%, below the central bank’s target range.

Economists and financial markets are largely in agreement about the upcoming rate cut, with a Reuters poll showing that two-thirds of economists expect a 50 basis point reduction. This move is seen as necessary to support the economy, despite some concerns about potential inflationary pressures.

The Bank of Canada’s upcoming monetary policy report will provide further insights into its economic forecasts and the rationale behind its decision. As the central bank navigates these challenging economic conditions, its actions will be closely watched by markets and policymakers alike.


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