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BoC Opens the Door to Rate Hikes: What It Means for Your Mortgage

  Published September 4, 2026 The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on September 2 — the seventh straight hold — but Governor Tiff Macklem didn't sound like a central banker done for the year. He told reporters the Bank is "prepared to raise interest rates, and if it takes more than one increase, we're prepared to do that," if inflation stays too high. That's a real shift in tone, and it lands right as a wave of Canadians hit their mortgage renewal date. Here's what changed, who's forecasting what, and what it actually means for your payment. Why the Bank Suddenly Sounds Hawkish Canada's annual inflation rate has climbed to around 3% — a full point above the Bank's 2% target — and the Bank is pointing squarely at energy prices. Oil has stayed elevated because of the Iran conflict and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gas prices up and dragging headline CPI with it. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is still s...

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Southern Lebanon Empties as Expanded Israeli Orders Deepen Regional Tensions


Large stretches of southern Lebanon have rapidly transformed into near‑empty landscapes after Israel broadened its evacuation orders, pushing tens of thousands of residents to flee northward. Communities that once bustled with daily life now resemble ghost towns, with shuttered shops, abandoned homes, and deserted streets marking the accelerating displacement.

The expanded evacuation zone follows intensified cross‑border exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, raising fears of a wider conflict. Lebanese officials warn that the growing humanitarian strain is overwhelming local infrastructure, as displaced families crowd into schools, public buildings, and relatives’ homes farther from the border.

Residents who left behind farms, businesses, and personal belongings describe the evacuation as both abrupt and emotionally wrenching. Many say they fear a prolonged crisis, uncertain when—or if—they will be able to return.

Regional observers note that the widening evacuation footprint signals a potentially dangerous escalation, with both sides showing little sign of easing hostilities. As diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction, the emptied towns of southern Lebanon stand as stark evidence of a conflict edging closer to a broader confrontation.


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