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Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25% — What the Fine Print Means for You

  July 15, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% today, exactly as every economist surveyed expected. The number didn't move — but the story underneath it did. Between renewed oil-market chaos, a stubbornly hot inflation reading, and an economy that's finally showing signs of life, this "boring" hold decision was anything but simple. If you've been following our preview piece from earlier this week , this is the follow-up: what actually happened, and what it means for your mortgage, your savings, and your grocery bill. The Decision, in Plain English This marks the sixth consecutive hold since the Bank's last cut back in October 2025. The overnight rate stays at 2.25%, the Bank Rate at 2.5%, and the deposit rate at 2.20%. Bank prime — the number that actually determines your variable mortgage or line of credit rate — stays put at 4.45%. Governor Tiff Macklem has described this level as sitting near the bottom of the Bank...

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Provinces to Fund Nurse Practitioners for Primary Care by 2026

 

Starting in 2026, provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives. This change is part of a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced that regulated health-care professionals who aren't doctors will be able to bill the government for medically necessary services that would otherwise be provided by a physician.

The move aims to address the shortage of primary care providers and ensure that patients are not paying out of pocket for necessary care. Holland emphasized that charging patients for these services isn't consistent with universal health care and that nurse practitioners should be able to bill the health-care system the same way doctors do.

This policy change is expected to relieve pressure on primary care physicians and improve access to needed care. The changes will be enforced through federal health transfer payments, which could be deducted if patients are charged for medically necessary care.




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