Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Dec 5th, 2018

Silverman Mortgage | December 5, 2018

The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¾ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ per cent.

The global economic expansion is moderating largely as expected, but signs are emerging that trade conflicts are weighing more heavily on global demand. Recent encouraging developments at the G20 meetings are a reminder that there are upside as well as downside risks around trade policy. Growth in major advanced economies has slowed, although activity in the United States remains above potential.

Oil prices have fallen sharply since the October Monetary Policy Report (MPR), reflecting a combination of geopolitical developments, uncertainty about global growth prospects, and expansion of U.S. shale oil production. Benchmarks for western Canadian oil – both heavy and, more recently, light – have been pulled down even further by transportation constraints and a buildup of inventories. In light of these developments and associated cutbacks in production, activity in Canada’s energy sector will likely be materially weaker than expected.

The Canadian economy as a whole grew in line with the Bank’s projection in the third quarter, although data suggest less momentum going into the fourth quarter. Business investment fell in the third quarter, in large part due to heightened trade uncertainty during the summer. Business investment outside the energy sector is expected to strengthen with the signing of the USMCA, new federal government tax measures, and ongoing capacity constraints. Along with strong foreign demand, this increase in productive capacity should support continued growth in exports.

Household credit and regional housing markets appear to be stabilizing following a significant slowdown in recent quarters. The Bank continues to monitor the impact on both builders and buyers of tighter mortgage rules, regional housing policy changes, and higher interest rates.

Inflation has been evolving as expected and the Bank’s core measures are all tracking 2 per cent, consistent with an economy that has been operating close to its capacity. CPI inflation, at 2.4 per cent in October, is just above target but is expected to ease in coming months by more than the Bank had previously forecast, due to lower gasoline prices. Downward historical revisions by Statistics Canada to GDP, together with recent macroeconomic developments, indicate there may be additional room for non-inflationary growth. The Bank will reassess all of these factors in its new projection for the January MPR.

Weighing all of these developments, Governing Council continues to judge that the policy interest rate will need to rise into a neutral range to achieve the inflation target. The appropriate pace of rate increases will depend on a number of factors. These include the effect of higher interest rates on consumption and housing, and global trade policy developments. The persistence of the oil price shock, the evolution of business investment, and the Bank’s assessment of the economy’s capacity will also factor importantly into our decisions about the future stance of monetary policy.

Information note

The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is January 9, 2019. The next full update of the Bank’s outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published in the MPR at the same time.

Here are the announcement dates set for 2019.

  • January 9th 2019*
  • March 6th 2019
  • April 24th 2019*
  • May 29th 2019
  • July 10th 2019*
  • September 4th 2019
  • October 30th 2019*
  • December 4th 2019

* Monetary Policy Report published

RECENT POSTS

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — September 2, 2026

By Zach Silverman • September 2, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. While Canada's economic recovery is broadening, a new layer of uncertainty has entered the picture. Here is what happened and what it means for your mortgage.

How to Legally Assign a Construction Mortgage

By Zach Silverman • August 26, 2026
Why More Mortgage Options Matter—Especially for Assignment Purchases One of the biggest advantages of working with an independent mortgage professional is access to choice. Instead of being limited to one lender and one set of products, mortgage brokers work with multiple lenders—each with different guidelines, risk tolerances, and mortgage solutions. That flexibility becomes especially valuable when your situation doesn’t fit neatly into a “standard” box. A great example of this is purchasing new construction through an assignment contract . Why Assignment Purchases Can Be Challenging Assignment purchases are often viewed as higher risk by traditional lenders. Rather than declining these deals outright, many lenders quietly make them difficult by adding layers of conditions, restrictions, or uncertainty. This can lead to delays, frustration, or financing falling apart late in the process. The Good News There are lenders—available exclusively through the broker channel —that have clear, favourable policies for assignment purchases. With the right lender and proper planning, these transactions are absolutely doable. Typical Financing Requirements for Assignment Purchases While every situation is unique, many lenders that allow assignment financing look for the following: Standard purchase qualification, including income verification, credit, and down payment Assignments accepted at either the original purchase price or current market value Minimum 620 credit score , with no prior bankruptcies or consumer proposals The full down payment must come from the purchaser —seller incentives cannot be used Required Documentation To secure financing, lenders typically require: The original purchase agreement signed by all parties The MLS listing (if applicable) The assignment agreement signed by the builder, original purchaser, and new buyer Any side agreements outlining changes to the purchase price A full appraisal to confirm value This list isn’t exhaustive, but it highlights that while assignment purchases require more coordination, they are very achievable with the right lender and guidance. Final Thoughts Assignment contracts can open doors to great opportunities—but only if your financing supports the transaction. This is where access to multiple lenders and specialized policies makes a real difference. If you’re considering purchasing new construction through an assignment, or if you’d like to explore more traditional purchase options, feel free to connect anytime. I’d be happy to walk you through the mortgage products available and help you choose an option that doesn’t limit your financing possibilities.

Monthly vs. Biweekly Mortgage Payments: Which Is Better?

By Zach Silverman • August 19, 2026
How Mortgage Payment Frequency Affects What You Pay Over Time You’ve probably heard the saying that there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. When it comes to your mortgage, there’s really just one certainty—you’ll repay what you borrow, plus interest. What is flexible, though, is how often you make your mortgage payments. And that choice can have a meaningful impact on how quickly you pay down your mortgage and how much interest you pay over time. The Six Mortgage Payment Frequencies Most lenders offer the following payment options: Monthly – 12 payments per year Semi-monthly – 24 payments per year Bi-weekly – 26 payments per year Weekly – 52 payments per year Accelerated bi-weekly – 26 payments per year Accelerated weekly – 52 payments per year Standard Payment Frequencies The first four options are designed to align with how you get paid. For example: Paid monthly? Monthly mortgage payments may make sense. Paid every two weeks? Bi-weekly payments can align nicely with your cash flow. With these standard options, regardless of how often you pay, the total amount paid over the year is the same —it’s simply divided into more frequent payments. What Makes “Accelerated” Payments Different Accelerated payments work differently—and this is where the real savings happen. With accelerated bi-weekly or accelerated weekly payments, you’re paying a slightly higher amount each time. That extra money goes directly toward reducing your mortgage principal, which lowers the interest you’ll pay over the life of the mortgage. A Simple Example Let’s assume a $1,000 monthly mortgage payment: Monthly: $1,000 once per month = $12,000 per year Semi-monthly: $500 twice per month = $12,000 per year Bi-weekly: $1,000 × 12 ÷ 26 = $461.54 every two weeks = $12,000 per year Accelerated bi-weekly: $1,000 ÷ 2 = $500 every two weeks = $13,000 per year With accelerated bi-weekly payments, you effectively make two extra payments per year without having to think about it. Those extra payments reduce your principal faster, which lowers interest costs over time. Accelerated weekly payments work the same way—you just make smaller payments more frequently. Why This Matters Long Term While it’s difficult to calculate exact savings due to variables like interest rates, terms, and amortization changes, maintaining an accelerated payment schedule over the life of your mortgage can reduce your amortization by up to three years and save a significant amount of interest. The Bottom Line Accelerated payments are a simple, automatic way to lower your overall cost of borrowing—without needing to make lump-sum payments or drastically change your budget. If you’d like to see how different payment frequencies would impact your mortgage specifically, feel free to reach out anytime. I’d be happy to walk through the numbers with you and help you choose the option that fits your goals.