Friday, May 15, 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

Pedestrian death in Kelowna

Pedestrian death in Kelowna
Mounties are investigating the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in Kelowna's Rutland neighbourhood over the weekend. Police say they believe the death on Saturday afternoon is related to an earlier event where officers responded to a complaint of a group of teens using bear spray on people. 

Pedestrian death in Kelowna

B.C. Premier Eby says Surrey must talk with province about police transition costs

B.C. Premier Eby says Surrey must talk with province about police transition costs
B.C. Premier David Eby says it's time for the City of Surrey and the province to talk about the extra money the city says it needs to replace the RCMP with a local police force.  Eby says the provincial government's $150-million contribution to cover transition costs remains on the table, but there will be no more.   

B.C. Premier Eby says Surrey must talk with province about police transition costs

Body found in Langley explosion

Body found in Langley explosion
A body has been found by firefighters at the scene of an explosion in Langley and the province's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is now investigating. Mounties and firefighters responded to an explosion at a house in rural Langley on Sunday afternoon.

Body found in Langley explosion

Five youth, one adult taken to hospitals after school bus rolls over north of Calgary

Five youth, one adult taken to hospitals after school bus rolls over north of Calgary
Six people have been transported to hospital after a collision involving a school bus in central Alberta. An RCMP officer from Didsbury, about 82 kilometres north of Calgary, came across the school bus rollover on Highway 2A at Township Road 320, police said Monday. 

Five youth, one adult taken to hospitals after school bus rolls over north of Calgary

B.C. to remove barriers for internationally trained professionals: premier

B.C. to remove barriers for internationally trained professionals: premier
The British Columbia government has introduced legislation that is expected to add skilled workers into the labour force more quickly by reducing barriers for internationally trained professionals. Premier David Eby says B.C. cannot leave people with skills and experience on the sidelines, given labour shortages the province is facing now and in the coming years.

B.C. to remove barriers for internationally trained professionals: premier

IRCC hopes India visa operations will return to normal by early 2024: Report

IRCC hopes India visa operations will return to normal by early 2024: Report
Canada's top immigration body said that it expects Indian visa processing, set to be impacted due to recent withdrawal of diplomats, to return to normal by early 2024. According to senior officials at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the reduction of staff in India is expected to create a backlog of 17,500 'final decisions' across the country's global immigration system over the next two months.

IRCC hopes India visa operations will return to normal by early 2024: Report