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Big Six Banks Raise Fixed Mortgage Rates: What Your Renewal Costs Now

  Canadian Money Brief • Mortgages Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026 If your mortgage term ends this winter, the rate you saw advertised in August is probably gone. All six of Canada’s big banks have raised fixed rates since early September, and the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched its policy rate in almost a year. That disconnect catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Your fixed mortgage rate doesn’t follow the Bank of Canada. It follows the bond market. And bond yields have been climbing on oil-driven inflation worries, which means the people feeling it first right now are the ones opening a renewal letter. The numbers at a glance Up to 0.50 pt in fixed-rate increases at the big banks in about five weeks • BoC policy rate still 2.25% • Big bank prime still 4.45% • About $110 a month more on a $400,000 balance from a half-point jump How far have the big banks moved? Depending on the term, some big bank fixed rates are up by as much as half a percentage point in roughly five week...

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Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

- 3 cups all-purpose flour

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

- 1/2 cup molasses

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon ground ginger

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

- 1/4 teaspoon salt


Instructions:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.

2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Then, add in the egg and molasses and mix well.

3. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, blending well after each addition.

4. Chill: Divide the dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

5. Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters.

6. Bake: Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Decorate: Once cooled, you can decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles as desired.


I hope you have fun baking these! 

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