Julian Beltrame, The Canadian Press OTTAWA – Stephen Harper has kept one economic lynch pin, promoted two others, and brought in an untried new face — but his Conservative government’s message and policies remain the same. The top economic minister, Jim Flaherty at Finance, was brought back to cabinet Wednesday in order to re-introduce the […]

There has already been “some softening” in the Canadian real-estate market so there is no need for further tightening of mortgage rules, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Tuesday. In his first public comments since the election, Flaherty said the country continues to weather the ongoing upheaval in the global economy. He said his first priority […]

By Julian Beltrame, The Canadian Press OTTAWA – The Canadian economy is not only creating more jobs, it’s creating better jobs according to one of the country’s major banks. CIBC’s latest employment quality index shows that 60 per cent of new jobs created over the past year would qualify as high-paying, quality jobs. The bank […]

Condo Poll finds Vancouverites most willing to make joint purchase of a condo – VANCOUVER, May 10 /CNW/ – The majority of Vancouverites who recently purchased or intend to purchase a condo say that if they had more money, they would prefer to buy a house instead.  The 2011 TD Canada Trust Condo Poll, which […]

In a time where identity theft and Ponzi schemes are plastered across the daily news, the last thing you want to worry about is yet another way to lose your hard-earned money.   But as a homeowner, you need to be aware of crimes on the rise known as mortgage fraud and real estate title […]

With interest rates still sitting near historically low levels – with nowhere to go but up – now is an ideal time for first-time homebuyers to embark upon homeownership.   But if low interest rates still don’t tip the scales on your decision to enter the property market, perhaps the information below will.   Down […]

Higher Canadian rates, sooner. That’s what the markets figured out this week and that’s what is powering the Canadian dollar. Sometimes when you see a big market reaction you know it’s probably an over-reaction and you can ignore it – but not this time. Let’s start with a little tutorial (no, please keep reading, it […]

Canadians can now get their individual Financial Fitness Score to help discover how financially fit they are courtesy of Genworth Financial and the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services (CACCS).   This new Financial Fitness Score, the first of its kind in Canada, is available online at www.financialfitness.ca <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14777983&msgid=371287&act=G0OG&c=191858&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.financialfitness.ca> . The score is based on […]

Whether it’s a duplex, a cottage or a Florida getaway, a second property can be a rewarding investment over time. But if you’re not careful, it can prove taxing as well. A little planning goes a long way.   The following are some common mistakes financial planners see in their practice, as well as some […]

Canadian household debt loads hit record territory this year, surpassing even levels south of the border. A new Statistics Canada paper <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14777983&msgid=371287&act=G0OG&c=191858&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statcan.gc.ca%2Fpub%2F11-008-x%2F2011001%2Farticle%2F11430-eng.pdf>  out last Thursday sheds some light on just who’s most indebted and why.   First, the aggregate numbers: household debt for Canadians more than doubled between 1984 and 2009 – from $46,000 to […]