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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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Tiny Homes for the Homeless: A Controversial Solution in Toronto

 

The City of Toronto has requested the removal of tiny shelters for homeless individuals from St. James Park. These shelters, built by the non-profit organization Tiny Tiny Homes, were designed to provide temporary housing for those experiencing homelessness. The city cited safety concerns and interference with public use of the park as reasons for the removal.

Ryan Donais, the founder of Tiny Tiny Homes, started building these shelters to address the growing number of homeless encampments in Ontario. Each tiny home is equipped with a bed, a small kitchen, a solar panel for lights and a fan, and a diesel-fueled heating system. Despite the city's request, Donais and his supporters are advocating for alternative locations for the shelters and have started a petition to garner public support.

The city has acknowledged the good intentions behind the initiative but maintains that the shelters pose safety risks and interfere with city staff's outreach work. As the debate continues, the future of these tiny homes remains uncertain.


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