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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Odds, Fixed Rates, Tariff Swap, $100 Oil & Budget Countdown (Oct. 25)

  Canadian Money Brief • Sunday, October 25, 2026 A big week for your wallet starts Wednesday. Here are the five things Canadians should know before it begins. 1 The Bank of Canada decides Wednesday, and markets lean toward a hike The Bank of Canada announces its rate decision at 9:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28, alongside a new Monetary Policy Report. Prediction markets price roughly a 79% chance of a quarter-point hike to 2.50%, up sharply after Governor Tiff Macklem’s hawkish comments at the IMF meetings, though analysts remain split and some expect a “hawkish hold.” The U.S. Fed also decides that day. What it means for you: Variable-rate mortgage and HELOC holders feel it first. A 0.25-point hike works out to roughly $70 more per month on a $500,000 variable mortgage (25-year amortization), and prime would move from 4.45% to 4.70%. A hold means little change until the next decision on Dec. 9. 2 Fixed mortgage rates have already moved without the Bank Fixed rates follow bond ...
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France’s Smoky Past Clears the Air: A New Era of Public Health

Once synonymous with effortless cool, the image of the cigarette-wielding French intellectual or screen siren is going up in smoke. France, long romanticized for its laissez-faire relationship with tobacco, is taking decisive steps to extinguish public smoking once and for all.

In a bold public health push, the French government has announced sweeping new restrictions that will ban smoking in most public spaces by 2026. Beaches, public parks, forests, and even outside schools will soon be smoke-free zones. The plan includes stiff fines for violators and a new generation of “non-smoking zones,” reflecting a cultural pivot toward wellness and prevention.

This shift marks a turning point in a country where smoking has long held a cultural cachet. The iconic Gauloises cigarette, once a symbol of national identity, is now being traded for health campaigns and nicotine cessation programs. It’s not just about curbing addiction—it’s about reshaping public space, safeguarding youth, and challenging the legacy of an old habit deeply woven into the national image.

As France clears the air, it’s rewriting what cool looks like in the 21st century. Think mindfulness, clean lungs, and a little less secondhand smoke in your café au lait.



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