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Big Bank Earnings Are In: What They Reveal About Your Mortgage Stress

  August 26, 2026 Canada's biggest banks are in the middle of reporting Q3 2026 results, and so far the headline numbers look strong. BMO and Scotiabank both beat analyst estimates this week, and National Bank of Canada reported this morning. RBC, TD, and CIBC follow Thursday, closing out the sector's earnings season. But the number that actually matters to most Canadians isn't profit — it's what the banks are setting aside for loans that might go bad, and what they're saying about who's struggling to keep up. That's where the picture gets more interesting than the headlines suggest. The headline numbers BMO kicked off the week with adjusted profit up 22% year-over-year and return on equity climbing to 14%, with the bank reiterating its target of 15% ROE by the end of fiscal 2027. Scotiabank posted what CEO Scott Thomson called a record quarter: net income of $3 billion, up 21% year-over-year, with adjusted ROE hitting 14.2% — clearing the bank's own med...
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England’s Doctors Strike Amid Winter Flu Crisis

 

           Resident doctors from the British Medical Association picket outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London


Doctors across England have launched a five-day strike in the midst of a severe flu surge, intensifying pressure on the already strained National Health Service (NHS). The industrial action, led by resident or junior doctors, began on December 17, 2025, and is set to run until December 22.

Background of the Dispute

  • The strike is part of a long-running pay and working conditions dispute between doctors and the UK government.
  • Junior doctors argue that their pay has been eroded over more than a decade, leaving them struggling amid rising living costs.
  • The British Medical Association (BMA) reported that 83% of its members rejected the government’s latest pay offer, which included expanded training posts but fell short of the union’s demands.

Government Response

  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting has condemned the strikes as “self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous”, insisting that the government cannot afford the 26% pay rise demanded.
  • Officials warn the walkout could cost the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds and further disrupt patient care.

Impact on Healthcare

  • NHS England has already warned of a “worst-case scenario” as hospitals face record flu admissions, with some describing the outbreak as a “super flu”.
  • Hospitals have been instructed to maintain 95% of usual activity, though leaders admit this will be difficult given winter pressures and rising patient numbers.
  • Patients are expected to experience delays and cancellations, particularly in non-urgent care.

Outlook

This strike marks the 14th walkout since March 2023, underscoring the deepening rift between doctors and the government. With flu cases climbing and no resolution in sight, the dispute highlights the fragile state of England’s healthcare system during one of its toughest winters in recent memory.


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