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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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Israel Detains Director of Northern Gaza's Last Operating Hospital Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israeli forces detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza. The arrest comes amid a series of overnight strikes that killed nine people, including children.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israeli troops stormed the hospital on Friday, forcing staff and patients to evacuate in harsh winter conditions. Reports indicate that Dr. Abu Safiya and dozens of other hospital staff were taken to an interrogation center. The Israeli army has not responded to questions regarding the detention.

The hospital, which has been repeatedly targeted over the past three months, has seen its infrastructure severely damaged. The Health Ministry reported that a recent strike killed five medical personnel, further crippling the already strained healthcare system in Gaza.

The World Health Organization has condemned the raid, stating that it has put the last major health facility in northern Gaza out of service. The organization has called for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of healthcare facilities and personnel.

The conflict continues to escalate, with both sides suffering significant casualties. The international community has expressed growing concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.



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