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BoC Opens the Door to Rate Hikes: What It Means for Your Mortgage

  Published September 4, 2026 The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on September 2 — the seventh straight hold — but Governor Tiff Macklem didn't sound like a central banker done for the year. He told reporters the Bank is "prepared to raise interest rates, and if it takes more than one increase, we're prepared to do that," if inflation stays too high. That's a real shift in tone, and it lands right as a wave of Canadians hit their mortgage renewal date. Here's what changed, who's forecasting what, and what it actually means for your payment. Why the Bank Suddenly Sounds Hawkish Canada's annual inflation rate has climbed to around 3% — a full point above the Bank's 2% target — and the Bank is pointing squarely at energy prices. Oil has stayed elevated because of the Iran conflict and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gas prices up and dragging headline CPI with it. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is still s...

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Trump Reiterates 100% Tariffs Threat to Dissuade BRICS Nations from Replacing U.S. Dollar

In a recent statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump renewed his threat to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they attempt to replace the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency. The BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, has been exploring alternatives to the U.S. dollar in international trade.

Trump's warning comes amid growing frustration among BRICS nations over America's control of the global financial system. He demanded a firm commitment from these countries to cease any attempts to create a new currency or back existing currencies in competition with the U.S. dollar. Failure to comply, he warned, would result in severe consequences, including the imposition of 100% tariffs on goods imported from these countries and the end of their access to the U.S. market.

The U.S. dollar remains the dominant currency in global trade, but members of the BRICS alliance argue that America's control over the financial system is increasingly problematic. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the U.S. of "weaponizing" the dollar and has expressed the need for alternatives. The BRICS alliance, established in 2009, aims to challenge the world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies.

Trump's renewed threat underscores the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and the BRICS nations as they seek to assert their economic independence and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.


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