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The Mortgage Renewal Wave Just Peaked — Here's What the Data Actually Shows

Published August 30, 2026 For three years, "the mortgage renewal wall" has been the scariest phrase in Canadian personal finance — the idea that a flood of ultra-cheap, pandemic-era mortgages would come due at much higher rates and trigger a wave of forced sales. That wall is now mostly behind us. Two new 2026 surveys, one from Royal LePage and one from Rates.ca, show what actually happened when it hit. The short version: it hurt, budgets tightened hard for a lot of people, but the mass default many feared simply didn't show up. The last big group is renewing right now Royal LePage's 2026 Mortgage Renewal Survey, released August 19 and based on a Leger poll of 1,127 Canadians renewing this year, pins down where things stand: about 12% of all outstanding Canadian mortgages are five-year, fixed-payment loans taken out during the 2020–2022 ultra-low-rate window, and this is their last major renewal wave. The Bank of Canada's overnight rate sat at just 0.25% through m...

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A Step Toward Peace: Russia and Ukraine Agree to Maritime Truce and Energy Attack Ban

In a significant development, Russia and Ukraine have reached separate agreements to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to halt attacks on each other's energy facilities. These agreements, mediated by the United States, mark a potential turning point in the three-year-long conflict between the two nations.

The accords, finalized during talks in Saudi Arabia, aim to reduce hostilities and pave the way for broader peace negotiations. Both nations have expressed skepticism about the other's commitment to the agreements, emphasizing the need for U.S. enforcement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that any violations by Russia would prompt requests for sanctions and additional military support.

While the agreements represent progress, challenges remain. Maritime battles have been a smaller part of the conflict since 2023, but energy infrastructure has been a frequent target for both sides. The success of these agreements will depend on mutual adherence and effective enforcement.

This development offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the ongoing war, but the road to lasting peace remains uncertain.

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