Canada’s problems with a little-known risky mortgage product are more significant than expected. OSFI, the country’s bank regulator, has targeted combined loan plans (CLPs) for the past few years. CLPs enable interest-only payments, allowing borrowers to carry mortgage debt perpetually. The regulator called these a “systemic risk” that inflates home prices, so it’s clearly a […]
North American interest rate hikes are now largely out of the picture, and rate cuts are the new story. That was the take from BMO after the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced a hold on the 6th, with the US Federal Reserve expected to do the same on the 13th. Now the question on everyone’s […]
Canadians briefly thought the country’s central bank was owning up to, and correcting its mistakes. That pipedream had a bucket of cold water poured on it Thursday, as Bank of Canada (BoC) deputy governor Gravelle’s speech referred to a “long standing housing supply issue.” Adopting a popular but false political narrative didn’t sit right with […]
Canadian policymakers are trying to get ahead of data that shows its fading appeal to international students. Today the Government of Canada (GoC) announced new measures to restrict the number of permits. Starting next year, applicants will have to show twice as much cash reserved for their cost of living. The Minister of Immigration fell […]
Canada’s financial crime watchdog appears to have just woken up. This week, FINTRAC announced they fined two of the country’s biggest banks for anti-money laundering (AML) non-compliance. Sampling just a small number of transactions, the agency found serious gaps in reporting procedures that may have allowed dodgy money to slip through the system. RBC Failed […]
The only bond stronger than a mother and its baby is the one between rising interest rates and the arson of new homes under construction. Commercial insurer Northbridge Insurance is warning home builders to look out for arsonists. In a letter this week, the firm explained they expect new home arson to rise as financial […]
Greater Toronto real estate is unlikely to have a Christmas rally like some had hoped. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) data shows home prices fell further in November. Home sales continue to fall while inventory builds, easing market conditions. In fact, the erosion of market pressures is occurring at one of the fastest rates […]
Canadian policymakers are floating the idea of capping study permits, but they don’t need to. Government of Canada (GoC) data shows a sharp decline in the number of study permit applications in September. When policymakers first pitched the idea of limiting students to help affordability, it appears they were attempting to save face. The public […]
Canada’s labor market is stronger than expected, but most weren’t expecting much. Today’s Statistics Canada (Stat Can) Labor Force Survey (LFS) update shows the economy added more jobs than expected in November. However, the data also revealed more laborers were added than work, boosting unemployment. The trend is seen continuing near-term, with recent immigrants bearing […]
The Canadian economy is slowing… or booming. It really depends on when you read the statistics, apparently. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) released real gross domestic product (GDP) data this morning, revealing a sharp contraction in the third quarter. However, it was accompanied by a massive second quarter revision, indicating the economy was performing much better […]
