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Reaching Your CPP Contribution Maximum: What Workers Need to Know

  Understanding when you’ve hit the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) maximum contribution for the year can save you confusion—and help you make sense of your paycheques as the year goes on. The CPP is designed with an annual limit, meaning once you’ve contributed the maximum required amount, no further CPP deductions should come off your income for the rest of that calendar year. How CPP Contributions Work CPP contributions are based on: Your employment income The year’s maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) The CPP contribution rate Each year, the federal government sets: A maximum amount of income on which CPP contributions apply (the YMPE) The maximum total contribution you and your employer must make Once your income reaches that threshold, your contributions stop automatically. How to Know You’ve Reached the Maximum Here are the simplest ways to tell: Check your pay stub Your pay stub shows year‑to‑date CPP contributions. Compare this number to the annual maximum ...

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Are rate hikes over for Canada


The Canadian economy is expected to show a modest growth of 0.4% in the third quarter of 2023, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. This is lower than the 0.6% expansion in the previous quarter, and well below the 2.1% growth rate that the Bank of Canada projected in July.

The weak GDP numbers have fueled the speculation that the country may be heading into a recession, as global trade tensions, lower oil prices, and household debt weigh on the economic outlook. 

However, not everyone is convinced that the situation is so dire. Some forecasters argue that the third quarter slowdown was mainly due to temporary factors, such as a strike at a major auto plant, a drop in agricultural output due to drought, and a slowdown in housing construction. They expect that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter, as these factors dissipate and consumer spending picks up.

Moreover, some forecasters point out that the inflation rate remains within the central bank's target range of 1% to 3%, suggesting that there is no need for further monetary stimulus. They also note that the labour market remains strong, with the unemployment rate at a near-record low of 5.5%, and wage growth at a solid 3.2%.

Therefore, some forecasters believe that the Bank of Canada will maintain its wait-and-see approach, and keep interest rates unchanged until there are clear signs of either a sustained recovery or a prolonged downturn. They argue that the central bank has already done enough to support the economy, by cutting interest rates three times in 2022, and that any further easing could fuel financial imbalances and inflationary pressures.

In summary, the GDP numbers for the third quarter of 2023 are likely to spark more debate about the state of the Canadian economy and the direction of monetary policy. However, some forecasters are more optimistic than others, and think that the rate hikes are over for now, unless there is a significant change in the economic conditions.

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