More on current economic conditions from our friends at First National. In a sign that the economic tide is turning, Canada’s inflation rate moved higher in June.  Statistics Canada puts the annual inflation rate at 0.7% for the month.  That is more than double the 0.3% rate forecast by economists, and it is a significant […]

Some great tips for renters from our friends at REW.  For renters, the right questions can make a world of difference. By Justin Kerby Jul 20, 2020 If you plan on renting a property in Canada, it’s important to prepare for interviews with potential landlords. Tenants often prepare for questions about salary and previous rental experiences, […]

Some great tips from our friends at Pillar to Post Home Inspection. MAINTENANCE TIPS Your Summer Checklist A well-maintained home is enjoyable in any season. Tackle a few of these tasks each week and reap the rewards! OUTDOORS Decks and patios are much more inviting when they’re clean, so get out that pressure washer. Be […]

Current market conditions from our friends at First National. Robust rebound in June Jul 20, 2020 First National Financial LP Home sales and prices rebounded sharply in June.  The latest figures from the Canadian Real Estate Association show purchases up more than 15% compared to a year ago.  The national average price is 6.5% higher, […]

Well, it appears to be a week of good news! More from Dr. Sherrp Cooper, Chief Economist at Dominion Lending.  The Bank of Canada under the new governor, Tiff Macklem, wants to be “unusually clear” that interest rates will remain low for a very long time. To do that, they are using “forward guidance”–indicating that […]

More positive news from Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist at Dominion Lending. There was more good news today on the housing front. Home sales rebounded by a further 63% in June, returning them to normal levels for the month–150% above where they were in April when the pandemic-induced lockdown paralyzed the economy (see chart below). Data released […]

It’s nice to see some good news for a change! Fingers crossed that it continues. Update from Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist at Dominion Lending.  The June Labour Force Survey, released this morning by Statistics Canada, reflects labour market conditions as of the week of June 14 to June 20. By that time, public health restrictions […]

A Much Larger Deficit and Debt than Expected…some insight from Dr. Sherry Cooper, DLC’s Chief Economist. Finance Minister Bill Morneau presented his fiscal snapshot this afternoon. Most economists were expecting a budget deficit of roughly $260 billion. Instead, the government announced a deficit for the fiscal year 2020-21 of $343.2 billion–close to 16% of GDP. That compares to the […]

Great insight from our friends at First National. Jul 6, 2020 First National Financial LP Not surprisingly the Canadian economy has taken a major hit over the past few months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Statistics Canada reports that output shrank by nearly 20% in March and April in the weeks immediately after governments moved […]

The latest on the Canadian business outlook from Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist at Dominion Lending. The Bank of Canada released its Summer Business Outlook Survey (BOS)* this morning, covering an interview period from mid-May to early June. In all provinces and all sectors, the sentiment was hugely negative owing to the impact of the pandemic and […]