The Conservative government is thinking of offering voluntary CPP expansion as a way to help Canadians save for retirement. Is this the answer to Canada’s savings shortfall? Read on to learn more. Continue reading »
Tag Archives: jim flaherty
Income Splitting Would Cost Provinces $1.7 Billion Each Year
With a federal election and balanced national budget looming, the spotlight is once again the on the possibility of income splitting, a tax measure designed to benefit families with kids under the age of 18. However, a new study finds income splitting will be costly to the provinces – a $1.7-billion annual price tag, to be exact. Continue reading »
Spotlight On Mortgages: November 15, 2013
Mortgages Spotlight: Two opposing views on the potential of rising interest rates are released by Canadian policy makers. Continue reading »
Spotlight On Mortgages: November 1, 2013
Mortgages Spotlight: Speculation abounds that the Bank of Canada would have cut its interest rate in last week’s announcement rather than just their rate bias, if it hadn’t been for household debt fears. Fears also arise that prolonged low rates will prompt Finance Minister Flaherty to impose new mortgage rules, but he says he won’t interfere in the market – for now. Continue reading »
A Balanced Federal Budget – But At What Cost?
Jim Flaherty has announced there will be a balanced federal budget by 2015 and a hefty surplus to boot – but are too many public services and jobs being sacrificed through balancing spending cuts? Continue reading »
Spotlight On Mortgages: September 13, 2013
Recent data released by the 2011 National Household Survey shows one quarter of Canadians are spending more than they can afford on their housing. Condos continue to the the choice option for the first time buyer segment, and speculation grows over a new round of mortgage rule changes. Continue reading »
Canada Budget 2013: A Focus on Jobs and Growth
Canada Budget 2013 brings a new focus to creating skilled employment and stimulating the economy. Let’s take a look at how Finance Minister Jim Flaherty plans to spend tax dollars over the next year. Continue reading »
Friday Mortgage Round Up: October 26th, 2012
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty stated plans this week for the eventual privatization of the CMHC. Would would this mean for the mortgage market and borrowers? Continue reading »
Canadian Household Debt Higher Than We Thought: StatsCan
Canada’s debt to income ratio and subsequent household debt is far higher than previously thought, on par with those that sparked the US and UK economic downturn and housing market crisis. Continue reading »
New Canada Mortgage Rules Go Into Effect Today
The days of 30-year high ratio mortgages are over as the mortgage rule changes announced June 21st by the Department of Finance go live today. While the changes have been put in place to cool an overly aggressive housing market and curtail Canadians’ debt to income ratio levels, it’s the short term implications that have everyone from first time home buyers to brokers wondering – what’s it going to cost? Continue reading »