Thursday, May 14, 2026
ADVT 
National

Weakening job market was on BoC's mind as it cut interest rates, summary suggests

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Aug, 2024 10:45 AM
  • Weakening job market was on BoC's mind as it cut interest rates, summary suggests

The Bank of Canada wants the economy to pick up speed again and some members of its governing council are concerned that weak job market conditions could hinder that process.

That's according to the central bank's newly released summary of deliberations detailing discussions ahead of the July 24 rate decision. 

The summary reiterates that the bank's decision to lower its policy rate last month was partly driven by the desire to boost economic growth.

As consumer price growth continues to ease, the central bank is placing more emphasis on the risks associated with undershooting its two per cent inflation target.

The governing council discussed the various indicators that suggest there is slack in the labour market and some members noted that further weakening could delay a rebound in consumption spending, which would in turn weigh on economic growth and inflation.

As high interest rates chill the economy, Canada's unemployment rate has steadily risen over the last year, reaching 6.4 per cent in June.

MORE National ARTICLES

Calgary man found not criminally responsible for five stabbing deaths faces review

Calgary man found not criminally responsible for five stabbing deaths faces review
A lawyer for an Alberta man found not criminally responsible for killing five young people at a Calgary house party is asking the province's review board to release him on an absolute discharge. A hearing has heard that Matthew de Grood had several two-week unescorted passes from an Edmonton group home over the last year to visit his parents in Calgary.

Calgary man found not criminally responsible for five stabbing deaths faces review

Lifetime cost of Canada's F-35 fighter jets is $73.9B: parliamentary budget officer

Lifetime cost of Canada's F-35 fighter jets is $73.9B: parliamentary budget officer
Canada will pay an estimated $73.9 billion to buy, fly and maintain its new fleet of F-35 fighter jets, the parliamentary budget officer said Thursday. Yves Giroux said his independent analysis of the procurement project is "broadly in line" with the government's own estimates from January, which said the cost would be around $70 billion.

Lifetime cost of Canada's F-35 fighter jets is $73.9B: parliamentary budget officer

Appeal dismissal for 3 pot log smugglers

Appeal dismissal for 3 pot log smugglers
Three men accused of trying to smuggle more than 300 kilograms of pot into California in hollowed-out logs will not be allowed to appeal their case to the Supreme Court of Canada. Todd Ferguson, Daniel Joinson and Shane Fraser were arrested after the doctored logs were identified at a log home manufacturing company in California in 2006.

Appeal dismissal for 3 pot log smugglers

Large fentanyl bust in Mission

Large fentanyl bust in Mission
A call to Mission R-C-M-P about shots fired in the Hatzic Valley has resulted in the dismantling of a large fentanyl operation. Police say they were called in October to a report of gunshots heard and when they arrived they found several spent bullet casings, but confirmed no one on the property was injured. 

Large fentanyl bust in Mission

Woman charged with loansharking

Woman charged with loansharking
B-C’s gang squad says it has secured charges, including loansharking and money laundering, against a 35-year-old woman. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says it began an investigation in 2019 into allegations related to criminal interest rates and illegal operation of a money service business. 

Woman charged with loansharking

Morning fire at Surrey school

Morning fire at Surrey school
An early morning fire has shut down an elementary school in the Metro Vancouver municipality of Surrey. Surrey Fire Services say the fire, which has been knocked down, left some damage to the school’s walls but caused no injuries.

Morning fire at Surrey school