Skip to main content

Featured

Why Interest Rates Matter for Canadians

Interest rates are the single most powerful lever in Canada's economy.  When the Bank of Canada adjusts its policy rate, the effects reach every household—from the cost of carrying a mortgage to the return on a savings account. With rates currently at 2.25% and significant uncertainty ahead, understanding how rates work has never been more important for your finances. What Is the Bank of Canada's Policy Rate? The Bank of Canada sets the overnight policy rate—the interest rate at which major banks lend money to each other. This rate serves as a benchmark that influences borrowing and lending costs across the entire economy. When the Bank raises or lowers this rate, commercial banks adjust their prime rates accordingly, which directly affects the rates you pay on mortgages, lines of credit, and other loans. The Bank's primary goal is to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation runs too hot, the Bank raises rates to cool spending. When the economy slows, it cuts rates...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Quebec Moves to Outlaw Public Prayer in Push to Bolster Secularism

 

                                            Jean-François Roberge, Quebec's


The Quebec government has announced plans to introduce legislation this fall that would ban prayer in public spaces, including streets and parks, as part of a broader effort to reinforce the province’s secularism laws.

Secularism Minister Jean‑François Roberge said the measure responds to what he described as a growing phenomenon of street prayers, particularly in Montreal. Premier François Legault had previously voiced his support for such a ban, suggesting that prayer should be confined to places of worship.

The proposal comes just days after an independent committee released a 300‑page report with 50 recommendations to strengthen secularism. While the committee stopped short of calling for an outright ban on public prayer—suggesting municipalities regulate the practice instead—the government says the report informed its decision.

Critics, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims, argue the move unfairly targets Muslim communities and risks infringing on religious freedoms. The government has not ruled out invoking the notwithstanding clause to shield the law from constitutional challenges.

If passed, the bill would mark another expansion of Quebec’s secularism framework, following earlier laws restricting the wearing of religious symbols in certain public sector roles.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment