Wednesday, December 31, 2025
ADVT 
National

BOC holds key interest rate at 5%

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Mar, 2024 02:47 PM
  • BOC holds key interest rate at 5%

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says we've come a long way in our fight against high inflation but it's still too soon to start lowering interest rates.

The central bank has done as expected and kept its key interest rate steady at five per cent.

Macklem says the governing council believes the central bank needs to give higher rates more time to do their work. 

Speaking in Montreal, Macklem says history shows monetary policy is quite effective at controlling inflation in the medium term, but is unable to address short-term price fluctuations.

Macklem also says interest rates cannot fuel economic growth in the long run, noting that can only be reached through population growth or improvements on productivity.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. reports 120% increase in prescriptions after pharmacists gain new powers

B.C. reports 120% increase in prescriptions after pharmacists gain new powers
B.C. pharmacists gained the ability to administer more vaccines and renew or adjust prescriptions for a wider range of drugs, with further changes on the way. The move aimed to help ease the pressures on B.C.'s health-care system, including the ongoing shortage of family physicians and lengthy clinic wait times.

B.C. reports 120% increase in prescriptions after pharmacists gain new powers

206 toxic drug deaths for BC in April

206 toxic drug deaths for BC in April
The report says fentanyl was present in about eight of every 10 deaths, almost always in combination with other substances. The service says there have been a total of 814 toxic drug deaths in the first four months of this year.

206 toxic drug deaths for BC in April

BOC raises concern that debt poses to Cdn economy

BOC raises concern that debt poses to Cdn economy
The central bank is also warning that financial stability could be threatened by a potential major cyber attack and more frequent extreme weather events associated with climate change.   

BOC raises concern that debt poses to Cdn economy

WestJet starts to cancel flights as pilot strike looms, negotiations in stalemate

WestJet starts to cancel flights as pilot strike looms, negotiations in stalemate
The Calgary-based company has begun to park the bulk of its fleet — 105 narrow-body 737s and seven wide-body 787 Dreamliners — using a "measured, phased and safe approach," the statement read.  

WestJet starts to cancel flights as pilot strike looms, negotiations in stalemate

Suspect driving taxi erratically arrested

Suspect driving taxi erratically arrested
Officers flooded the area and used their vehicles to block the taxi in, arresting its driver, who was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police say the investigation is in its early stages, but they believe the taxi was stolen in a carjacking incident.

Suspect driving taxi erratically arrested

Wildfire smoke continues to spread throughout BC

Wildfire smoke continues to spread throughout BC
Michael Mehta, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Thompson Rivers University, is encouraging people to wear face masks in smoky areas. He says the risks associated with wildfire smoke are numerous and serious, but they're not always understood by the public.

Wildfire smoke continues to spread throughout BC