Skip to main content

Featured

Carney Government Faces First Budget Confidence Test in Commons

                 Prime Minister Mark Carney's budget needs two opposition MPs to either support or abstain it to pass. The House of Commons is set to hold its first confidence vote tied to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s inaugural federal budget on Thursday evening. The vote will focus on a Conservative sub-amendment to a Bloc Québécois amendment, both of which challenge key elements of the government’s fiscal plan. The Liberal government has declared the votes to be matters of confidence , meaning defeat could trigger a federal election. While the stakes are high, the government is expected to survive this initial test thanks to support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois , who have both signaled they will vote against the Conservative motion. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies confirmed that his caucus of seven MPs will side with the Liberals, ensuring the defeat of the Conservative sub-amendment. However, Davies ...

article

New Mortgage Policies Expected to Drive Canadian Home Prices Higher in 2025

 

According to a recent analysis by TD Economics, new federal mortgage policies are set to boost Canadian home prices in 2025. These policies, which include raising the cap on insured mortgages and extending amortization periods for first-time homebuyers, are expected to provide a secondary tailwind to the housing market.

The new measures, effective December 15, 2024, will increase the insured mortgage cap from $1 million to $1.5 million, allowing more Canadians to qualify for mortgages with lower down payments. Additionally, first-time homebuyers and purchasers of new builds will be able to take out loans with a 30-year amortization period.

TD Economics predicts that these changes will result in home sales and average prices being two to four percentage points higher by the end of 2025 than they would have been without the new policies. However, the report also warns that the initial boost in affordability may erode over time, potentially slowing sales volume and price growth by the end of 2026.

While these policies are not expected to trigger a housing boom on their own, they will complement lower interest rates and improving economic conditions, contributing to a more robust housing market. The changes come amid an ongoing affordability crisis driven by population growth, sluggish new construction, and inflation.

Overall, the new federal mortgage policies aim to make homeownership more accessible to Canadians, particularly younger generations, while also addressing the broader housing market challenges.


Comments