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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Odds Near 80%, Oil Tops US$100, Loonie Hits 5-Week High

  Canadian Money Brief  |  Saturday, October 24, 2026 The Bank of Canada is expected to raise rates on Wednesday, oil is back above US$100 and stocks slipped on AI worries. Here are the five things to know this Saturday, and what each one means for your wallet. 1 The Bank of Canada is widely expected to hike on Wednesday Markets are putting roughly an 80% chance on a quarter-point increase at the Bank of Canada’s Oct. 28 decision, which would lift the policy rate from 2.25% to 2.50%. A majority of economists polled by Reuters also expect a second hike by the end of March. The shift followed hawkish comments from Governor Tiff Macklem about a higher inflation outlook driven by oil. What it means for you Every 0.25-point increase adds about $250 a year (roughly $21 a month) for each $100,000 of prime-linked debt, such as a variable-rate mortgage or HELOC. Fixed-rate holders are not hit directly, but renewals are being priced off higher bond yields. Savers may see HISA and...

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Poilievre Sparks Debate With Claim Christians Face Most Hate-Based Violence

 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre described church burnings in recent years as 'terrorist attacks' directed at Christians.


Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has ignited controversy after suggesting that Christians “may be the number one group” targeted by hate-based violence in Canada. His remarks came in response to a series of church burnings in Alberta and other recent attacks on Christian places of worship.

Speaking at a press event, Poilievre described the incidents as “terrorist attacks” and vowed that, if elected, his government would impose tougher penalties for crimes such as arson against religious institutions. “One hundred churches have been burned,” he said, adding that Christians may be the leading victims of hate crimes, though he acknowledged it is “not politically correct to say that”.

However, Statistics Canada data paints a different picture. In 2023, the majority of reported hate crimes targeting religion were directed at Jewish communities (70 percent) and Muslim communities (16 percent). By comparison, incidents against Catholics and other Christian groups were significantly lower, though there was a spike in 2021 following revelations about unmarked graves at former residential school sites.

Poilievre’s comments have fueled debate over the perception of religious persecution in Canada, highlighting the tension between political rhetoric and statistical evidence.


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