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Monday’s CPI Could Decide Your Next Mortgage Payment

  Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September. Inflation is sitting at 3%. The Bank of Canada has to decide on October 28 which of those facts matters more, and on Monday morning one more number lands to help it choose. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage, a HELOC or a renewal this winter, that number has a price tag. Two reports pulling in opposite directions The jobs data came first. Statistics Canada reported on October 9 that employment fell by 68,000 in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.5% from 6.4%. It followed a drop of about 42,000 in August, which means more than half of the 181,000 jobs gained between April and July have now been wiped out. Ontario shed 20,000 positions on its own. Markets reacted within hours: the odds of a quarter-point Bank of Canada hike on October 28 dropped to roughly 25% from about 40%, according to LSEG data reported by Reuters. Inflation is telling the opposite story. The consumer price index rose 3.0% year over year in August, matching Ju...

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RESP: A Smart Way to Save for Schooling.


RESP is a great way to save for schooling. RESP stands for Registered Education Savings Plan. It is a government-sponsored investment account that helps parents save for their child’s post-secondary education. One of the key benefits of RESP is that it allows your savings to grow tax-free until the funds are withdrawn. This means that any investment income earned within the RESP is not subject to tax as long as it remains in the plan. Additionally, the government provides grants and incentives to encourage parents to save for their child’s education. For example, the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) matches 20% of the contributions made to an RESP, up to a maximum of $500 per year. This can significantly boost your savings over time.


RESPs offer flexibility in terms of investment options. You can choose from a wide range of investment products such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs). This allows you to tailor your investment strategy based on your risk tolerance and financial goals. Moreover, when it comes time to withdraw funds from the RESP, the earnings are taxed in the hands of the student, who typically has little or no income. Since students usually have a lower tax rate than their parents, this can result in significant tax savings.


In summary, RESP is an excellent way to save for schooling as it offers tax advantages, government grants, and investment flexibility. It provides parents with a structured and efficient means of saving for their child’s post-secondary education while maximizing their savings potential.

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