Canada’s Productivity Blueprint

Bank of Canada Should Maintain Overnight Rate at 2.25 Percent in 2026, Increase to 2.75 Percent by Next October, Says C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council

October 22, 2026 – The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) calls for the Bank of Canada to keep its target for the overnight rate, its benchmark policy interest rate, at 2.25 percent at its next announcement on October 28, increase it to 2.5 percent by next April, and to 2.75 percent by next October.  The MPC is chaired by Jeremy Kronick, the Institute’s President […]

Canada’s Household Debt Problem Is Real, but Concentrated

October 14, 2026 – Canada has the highest household debt in the G7, but the country is not facing a systemic debt crisis, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. Instead, financial strain is concentrated among particular groups of Canadians. In “Beyond the Headlines: Where Canada’s Household Debt Problem Lies,” authors Mawakina […]

Beyond the Headlines: Where Canada’s Household Debt Problem Lies

by Mawakina Bafale and Peter MacKenzie Canada’s high household debt warrants concern, but the aggregate data do not point to a systemic debt crisis. The debt-service ratio (DSR), a more timely measure of financial strain than the debt-to-income ratio, has eased from its 2023 peak and sits slightly below its pre-pandemic level. Canada’s DSR is […]

US Life Science FDI Surges as Canada Falls Further Behind

Life science foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United States surged to $83.3 billion in 2025 as manufacturers moved production stateside amid tariff and pricing pressures. Canada also posted its strongest year since 2017 at $2.2 billion, more than double its 2024 level. But Canada’s gains pale next to the US boom: Canada attracted less […]

Could Alberta Really Afford to Separate from Canada?

What would Alberta gain by leaving Canada – and what could it lose? As calls for Alberta independence gain attention, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney and economist Charles St-Arnaud join Michael Hainsworth to examine the economic, political and practical consequences of separation.

Could Alberta Really Afford to Separate from Canada?

What would Alberta gain by leaving Canada – and what could it lose? As calls for Alberta independence gain attention, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney and economist Charles St-Arnaud join Michael Hainsworth to examine the economic, political and practical consequences of separation.

Higher Bond Yields Set to Raise Mortgage Payments for Canadians

Mortgages taken out in 2020 and 2021, when five-year Government of Canada bond yields – the most popular fixed mortgage rate – were below 1 percent, are coming up for renewal (some already have). These renewals are set to occur in a vastly different environment, with the five-year yield now at 3.7 percent. This increase […]

The Important Monetary Policy Considerations for a Seceding Alberta

From: Charles St-Arnaud To: Alberta referendum voters Date: September 21, 2026 Re: The Important Monetary Policy Considerations for a Seceding Alberta This Memo is part of a series the C.D. Howe Institute is presenting to better inform the public about the policy issues and complexities of the potential separation of Alberta, and its consequences on Albertans, businesses, […]

Toolkit of Economic Indicators

  The C.D. Howe Institute’s toolkit for tracking the economy is a customized series of data sets from past Institute publications. These tools can be helpful for policymakers and other parties interested in analyzing monetary policy and financial stability decisions. These unique variables, which can all be found in past Institute work, include: The Leading […]

Monetary Aspects of Alberta Separation

To: Alberta referendum voters  From: Rhys Mendes and John Murray Date: September 15, 2026  Re: Monetary Aspects of Alberta Separation This is the second in a series the C.D. Howe Institute is presenting to better inform the public about the policy issues and complexities of the potential separation of Alberta, and its consequences on Albertans, […]

Why the Bank of Canada Needed to Stand Pat

To: Inflation Watchers From: Jeremy M. Kronick and Steve Ambler Date: September 11, 2026 Re: Why the Bank of Canada Needed to Stand Pat The Bank of Canada held its policy rate constant at 2.25 percent last week, meeting market expectations. But if not for developments on the trade front, the economic data could well have pointed toward a hike. With […]

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