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Labour Day in Canada marks a well-earned break celebrating workers and the unofficial end of summer, when everyone suddenly remembers all the things they meant to do in August.
It’s the last big excuse for barbecues, lake trips, and squeezing in one more summer adventure before routines and school schedules take over again.
Stores and sidewalks feel a little calmer, while patios and parks get their final big rush of summer energy and “just one more weekend” vibes.
Happy Labour Day! Wishing you a relaxed, fun-filled long weekend with good food, no alarms, and maximum enjoyment before fall shows up uninvited.

Among Canadians whose mortgage rate changed at renewal since Early-Q1 2025, 82% renewed at a higher borrowing cost, while 13% secured a lower rate.
Among Canadians who renewed since Early-Q1 2025, 45% said mortgage costs took at least half their monthly household budget, showing heavier household budget pressure.
That strain included 40% putting 50% to 70% of household budgets toward mortgage payments, while 5% spent >70% of their monthly budget.
For borrowers whose fixed rate changed, 5-yr fixed terms were most common at 40%, while 3-yr terms followed closely at 35% in Canada.
Younger homeowners faced greater pressure: among Canadians ages 18 to 34 whose rate changed, 90% renewed at a higher mortgage rate at renewal.

The Bank of Canada is currently holding at 2.25%, but several major-bank forecasts now anticipate gradual increases during 2027.
Stronger economic growth could give policymakers more room to normalize rates if inflation pressures remain persistent.
Higher rates would raise borrowing costs for households and businesses while potentially improving returns on savings and fixed-income investments.
Investors may need to prepare for a less accommodative environment, balancing improving growth against renewed interest-rate pressure.

Credit scores matter because lenders want confidence you’ll repay such a major investment.
Pre-approval before house hunting clarifies budget, signals seriousness to sellers, and can streamline closing once you choose.
Stress is common from timelines, negotiations, and paperwork.
Buyers are urged to save beyond down payments for closing, moving, repairs, and lender-required reserves for setbacks.
Other guidance: get inspections, plan for future needs, use assistance programs, hire pros, stay flexible, and budget first.

Manulife Bank’s mortgage portfolio hit $28.7B by the end of Q2, with residential lending driving most of the growth—up around 12% year-over-year, 4% from the last quarter, and 6% since the close of 2025. When you factor in other client loans, their total net lending portfolio reached $31.75B, up about 13% from last year. The average loans and mortgages also climbed to $31.1B during Q2. What stands out to me, with my years in lending and underwriting, is that credit quality remained steady: non-performing residential mortgages totaled just $55M at quarter’s end, staying under 0.2% of the residential portfolio. Higher-risk Stage 2 residential mortgages actually declined to $1.27B from $1.38B, and the parent company reported largely unchanged credit-loss provisions throughout the quarter. Despite these strong fundamentals, the Canada segment’s net income dipped 22% due to claims and expenses—even as the parent company delivered $2.11B in net income and $1.92B in core earnings. It’s a reminder of the importance of strategic lending and diligent risk management in today’s market.