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The Mortgage Renewal Wave Just Peaked — Here's What the Data Actually Shows

Published August 30, 2026 For three years, "the mortgage renewal wall" has been the scariest phrase in Canadian personal finance — the idea that a flood of ultra-cheap, pandemic-era mortgages would come due at much higher rates and trigger a wave of forced sales. That wall is now mostly behind us. Two new 2026 surveys, one from Royal LePage and one from Rates.ca, show what actually happened when it hit. The short version: it hurt, budgets tightened hard for a lot of people, but the mass default many feared simply didn't show up. The last big group is renewing right now Royal LePage's 2026 Mortgage Renewal Survey, released August 19 and based on a Leger poll of 1,127 Canadians renewing this year, pins down where things stand: about 12% of all outstanding Canadian mortgages are five-year, fixed-payment loans taken out during the 2020–2022 ultra-low-rate window, and this is their last major renewal wave. The Bank of Canada's overnight rate sat at just 0.25% through m...

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Qatar Suspends Gaza Ceasefire Mediation Amid Stalemate

 

 Qatar has decided to suspend its mediation efforts in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, citing a lack of progress and commitment from both Hamas and Israel. This decision marks a significant setback in the ongoing efforts to broker peace in the region.

An official briefed on the matter stated that Qatar will not resume its role until both parties demonstrate a sincere willingness to negotiate in good faith. The official also mentioned that the political office of Hamas in Doha “no longer serves its purpose” under the current circumstances.

Qatar has been a key mediator alongside Egypt and the United States, working tirelessly to facilitate a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. However, the latest round of talks in mid-October failed to yield any agreement, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

The suspension of Qatar’s mediation efforts underscores the growing frustration with the stalled negotiations and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It remains to be seen whether this move will prompt a renewed commitment from both sides to return to the negotiating table.


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