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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Odds Near 80%, Oil Tops US$100, Loonie Hits 5-Week High

  Canadian Money Brief  |  Saturday, October 24, 2026 The Bank of Canada is expected to raise rates on Wednesday, oil is back above US$100 and stocks slipped on AI worries. Here are the five things to know this Saturday, and what each one means for your wallet. 1 The Bank of Canada is widely expected to hike on Wednesday Markets are putting roughly an 80% chance on a quarter-point increase at the Bank of Canada’s Oct. 28 decision, which would lift the policy rate from 2.25% to 2.50%. A majority of economists polled by Reuters also expect a second hike by the end of March. The shift followed hawkish comments from Governor Tiff Macklem about a higher inflation outlook driven by oil. What it means for you Every 0.25-point increase adds about $250 a year (roughly $21 a month) for each $100,000 of prime-linked debt, such as a variable-rate mortgage or HELOC. Fixed-rate holders are not hit directly, but renewals are being priced off higher bond yields. Savers may see HISA and...

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Parliament's Last-Minute Decision on $21B Spending Bill


                                                                        

 In a dramatic turn of events, Members of Parliament are gearing up for an eleventh-hour vote on a $21.6 billion spending bill. The vote, which is set to take place late tonight, comes just hours before the crucial deadline of December 10th.

The bill, proposed by the Liberals, seeks to allocate funds for various programs, including the First Nations child and family services program and compensation for Quebec's services for asylum seekers. However, the path to this vote has been anything but smooth. Parliament has been in a deadlock for months as Conservatives have been pressing the Liberals to release documents related to alleged misspending on a green-tech fund.

In a surprising move last week, Speaker Greg Fergus ruled to pause the ongoing privilege debate, allowing the spending bill vote to proceed. This decision underscores the urgency and importance of the bill, which includes $561 million for the Department of National Defence's Canadian multi-mission aircraft project.

Government House leader Karina Gould expressed cautious optimism, stating, "I'm looking forward to having the vote. There's a lot of really good things in there for Canadians, and it's important we get this done."

The outcome of this vote will have significant implications for various government programs and services, making it a pivotal moment for Canadian politics.



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