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Is Now a Good Time to Rent vs. Buy in Canada?

After years of brutal rent hikes that left many Canadians feeling priced out of their own cities, something has quietly shifted: rents are finally falling. But does that mean you should lock in a lease and wait out the housing market — or is this actually the window you've been waiting for to buy? The answer, as always, depends on your city, your finances, and your plans. Here's a clear-eyed breakdown of where things stand in 2026. What's Happening With Rents Right Now The Canadian rental market has undergone a dramatic reversal. After vacancy rates hit record lows in 2023 and rents surged by as much as 8% nationally in a single year, the tide has turned. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the national vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments rose to 3.1% in October 2025 — up from 2.2% in 2024 and a record low of just 1.5% in 2023. That 3.1% figure now sits above the 10-year historical average , marking a meaningful shift in the bal...
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Provinces to Fund Nurse Practitioners for Primary Care by 2026

 

Starting in 2026, provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives. This change is part of a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced that regulated health-care professionals who aren't doctors will be able to bill the government for medically necessary services that would otherwise be provided by a physician.

The move aims to address the shortage of primary care providers and ensure that patients are not paying out of pocket for necessary care. Holland emphasized that charging patients for these services isn't consistent with universal health care and that nurse practitioners should be able to bill the health-care system the same way doctors do.

This policy change is expected to relieve pressure on primary care physicians and improve access to needed care. The changes will be enforced through federal health transfer payments, which could be deducted if patients are charged for medically necessary care.




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