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The Fed Decides Wednesday — Here's What It Means for Your Mortgage, the Loonie, and Your RRSP

  Monday, July 27, 2026 The U.S. Federal Reserve hands down its rate decision at 2 p.m. ET on July 29. For most Canadians it will feel like background noise. It isn't — here's the plain-language version of why it touches your mortgage, your cross-border spending, and whatever's sitting in your RRSP. The short version: Markets are pricing roughly a two-in-three chance the Fed holds its rate at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday. That's not the story. The story is that this is one of the least certain "sure thing" holds in years — and Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET could matter more than the decision itself. Why this meeting is different The Fed has held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% through every meeting so far in 2026. On paper, Wednesday should be more of the same. Under the hood, it's messier. Persistent inflation, running well above the Fed's 2% target for a fifth straight year, has kept a rate hike on the table. The oil-...
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Ottawa and Ontario Streamline Rules for Ring of Fire Projects


                                             

Ottawa and Queen’s Park are set to sign a landmark agreement aimed at cutting red tape for major infrastructure and resource developments, including the long-delayed road to Ontario’s mineral-rich Ring of Fire region.

The deal, expected to be finalized on Thursday, introduces a “One Project, One Review, One Decision” framework. This approach will eliminate duplicative federal and provincial impact assessments, ensuring that large-scale projects undergo a single streamlined review process. According to government sources, the move is designed to reduce delays and regulatory overlap that have historically slowed progress on northern development initiatives.

The Ring of Fire, located in the James Bay lowlands, is considered one of Canada’s most significant deposits of critical minerals, including nickel and chromite. These resources are vital for building electric vehicle batteries and other clean technologies. The region’s development has been stalled for years due to environmental concerns, logistical challenges, and lengthy regulatory processes.

Under the new agreement, First Nations-led assessments will continue to play a central role. Communities such as Webequie First Nation and Marten Falls First Nation are already leading reviews for proposed roads that would connect their territories to Ontario’s highway system. The streamlined process is expected to support these efforts while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Federal and provincial officials argue that the deal will help unlock economic opportunities in northern Ontario, while also advancing Canada’s clean energy and critical minerals strategy. However, critics caution that faster approvals must not come at the expense of meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities or environmental protections.

This agreement marks a significant step toward balancing economic growth with regulatory efficiency, potentially paving the way for long-awaited development in the Ring of Fire and other large-scale projects across Ontario.


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