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What to Do with Your Tax Refund: 5 Smart Moves for Canadians

  Tax Season · Personal Finance By MoneySavings.ca Editorial Team • May 7, 2026 • 7 min read Tax season is wrapping up across Canada, and for millions of Canadians, that means a refund cheque — or a direct deposit — is on its way. The average Canadian tax refund hovers around $1,800. That's real money. The question is: what's the smartest thing you can do with it? It's tempting to treat a tax refund like "found money" and splurge. But here's the truth — that refund was your money all along. The government was just holding it for you, interest-free. So before it quietly disappears into day-to-day spending, let's look at five moves that will make it work harder for you. $1,800 The average Canadian tax refund — enough to make a meaningful dent in debt, pad an emergency fund, or kick-start your TFSA for the year. 1 Pay Down High-Interest Debt First If you're carrying a balance on a credit card, this should be your very first call. Most Canadian credit car...
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Bank of Canada Treads Carefully Amid Stagflation Risks

                                            Bank of Canada in Ottawa

The Bank of Canada is adopting a cautious stance as concerns about stagflation—sluggish economic growth paired with persistent inflation—loom over the Canadian economy. Former governor Stephen Poloz explained that the central bank is currently in risk management mode, balancing the conflicting pressures of weak growth and rising prices.

Poloz noted that the Bank faces a dilemma: cutting interest rates could cushion the blow of slowing growth and rising unemployment, but raising rates might be necessary to keep inflation under control. In such a scenario, the most prudent course of action may be to do very little, carefully monitoring incoming data before making any major policy moves.

This balancing act reflects the uncertainty created by global trade tensions and domestic economic challenges. Businesses and investors remain wary, with the potential for stagflation adding to the complexity of decision-making. Poloz emphasized that the Bank’s approach is not about aggressively steering the economy but rather about managing risks in real time, weighing whether the dangers of weak growth outweigh the threat of higher inflation.

The concept of stagflation, which combines stagnation and inflation, recalls the economic turbulence of the 1970s. While Canada is not yet in a full stagflationary environment, the risk is significant enough to warrant caution. Poloz’s comments highlight the delicate position of policymakers who must navigate between supporting growth and preventing runaway inflation.

For Canadians, this means monetary policy may remain steady in the near term, with the Bank of Canada opting for restraint rather than bold moves. The central bank’s priority is to safeguard economic stability while preparing for potential shocks that could tip the balance toward stagflation.


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