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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...
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Mass Pro-Palestinian Protests Sweep Barcelona and Rome Amid Gaza Crisis

The head of the rally with a banner stating: 'Let's stop the genocide in Palestine. End arms trade with Israel' / Joan Mateu Parra.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Barcelona and Rome on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in one of the largest waves of pro-Palestinian protests seen in Southern Europe in recent years.

In Barcelona, police estimated around 70,000 participants, while organizers claimed as many as 300,000. Protesters marched peacefully through the city center behind banners reading “Stop the genocide in Palestine” and “End the arms trade with Israel.” The rallies were partly fueled by anger over Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of humanitarian aid ships that had departed from Barcelona in September and was blocked in international waters earlier this week. Dozens of Spanish activists remain detained in Israel following the incident.

Meanwhile, in Rome, crowds numbering between 250,000 (police estimate) and over one million (organizers’ claim) marched past the Colosseum in a fourth consecutive day of demonstrations. The protests, which included families, students, and trade unions, were largely peaceful but ended with clashes between a small group of protesters and riot police near the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Authorities reported Molotov cocktails, fires, and several arrests after the confrontation.

The demonstrations in both cities were part of a broader European mobilization demanding an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Protesters also called for sanctions, boycotts, and stronger European Union action against Israel.

The scale of the protests highlights growing public pressure on European governments, particularly Spain and Italy, to take a firmer stance on the conflict.

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