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Bank of Canada Says More Rate Hikes Could Be Coming: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC

  Canadian Money Brief  |  November 11, 2026 Bank of Canada Says More Rate Hikes Could Be Coming: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC By the MoneySavings.ca team  •  6 min read The Bank of Canada raised its key rate on October 28, the first increase since 2023. Yesterday it signalled it may not be done. The summary of deliberations, released Tuesday, says Governing Council agreed there could be a need to raise the policy rate further, while taking decisions one meeting at a time. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage or a home equity line of credit (HELOC), that is a headline worth a few minutes. Here is what the Bank said, what another hike would cost, and what you can do before the next decision on December 9 . 2.50% Policy rate since Oct 28 4.70% Big-bank prime since Oct 29 3.5% BoC CPI forecast, end of 2026 Dec 9 Next rate decision What the Bank actually said The core of the story is energy. The Bank notes that the war in the Middle East is in its eig...

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A Symbol of Hope: Tiny Christmas Tree Amidst Church Ruins in Lebanon

 

In the southern Lebanese town of Dardghaya, amidst the ruins of the 18th-century St. George Melkite Catholic Church, a tiny Christmas tree now stands as a symbol of hope and resilience. The church, devastated by an Israeli airstrike in October, once served as a vibrant community center. 

Georges Elia, a 40-year-old municipal worker and churchgoer, took it upon himself to bring some normalcy to the holiday season. "This year, Christmas is arriving with sadness for us, but we didn't want it to be a sad one for the town's residents and its church," Elia said. 

The modest tree, shorter than Elia himself, is decorated with a shining garland and a star. Despite the lack of lights and a traditional Nativity scene due to the war's destruction, the tree stands tall among the fallen stones and shattered pews. "But, of course, Christ is born in our hearts, lit with our love for him," Elia added.

The church's priest, Father Maurice el Khoury, who has served for 11 years, conducts Sunday Mass in a small underground room that once housed visiting bishops. "This room is more like the cave where Jesus was born," he said, reminding families of the true essence of the holiday season.

The community's faith remains unshaken, and despite the staggering financial toll of the damage, estimated at nearly $3 million, they continue to celebrate Christmas with hope and love.



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