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Big Six Banks Raise Fixed Mortgage Rates: What Your Renewal Costs Now

  Canadian Money Brief • Mortgages Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026 If your mortgage term ends this winter, the rate you saw advertised in August is probably gone. All six of Canada’s big banks have raised fixed rates since early September, and the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched its policy rate in almost a year. That disconnect catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Your fixed mortgage rate doesn’t follow the Bank of Canada. It follows the bond market. And bond yields have been climbing on oil-driven inflation worries, which means the people feeling it first right now are the ones opening a renewal letter. The numbers at a glance Up to 0.50 pt in fixed-rate increases at the big banks in about five weeks • BoC policy rate still 2.25% • Big bank prime still 4.45% • About $110 a month more on a $400,000 balance from a half-point jump How far have the big banks moved? Depending on the term, some big bank fixed rates are up by as much as half a percentage point in roughly five week...
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Trump's Tariff Man: What Howard Lutnick's Appointment Means for Canada

 

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street heavyweight and co-leader of Trump's transition team, as his Secretary of Commerce and the point man for his tariff and trade agenda. Lutnick's appointment signals a significant shift in U.S. trade policy, with potential major implications for Canada.

Lutnick has publicly shared his views on tariffs, emphasizing that they will not be applied indiscriminately. Instead, he envisions tariffs serving two main purposes: influencing specific industries and acting as a negotiating tool to lower trade barriers with other countries. This approach aims to create a more level playing field for American businesses, particularly in the automotive sector, where Lutnick has highlighted the need for fairer competition with European and Japanese manufacturers.

For Canada, the impact of Trump's tariff plan could be substantial. Estimates suggest that the tariffs could cost Canada's economy anywhere from a half-per cent to five per cent of GDP, depending on their design and implementation. The energy sector, a major Canadian export to the U.S., might see less impact, but the automotive industry could face significant challenges.

As Lutnick takes on his new role, Canadian officials and businesses will be closely monitoring the developments to understand how these changes will affect cross-border trade and the broader economic relationship between the two countries.

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