interest rates

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.75%

Jun 5, 2024 | 3:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Bank of Canada has cut its key interest rate a quarter point to 4.75%, the first time the bank has cut the rate in more than four years.

The first rate cut since March 2020 comes as good news for would-be first time homebuyers and people with variable rate mortgages. Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem says the central bank has more confidence inflation is moving closer to its 2% target and that if inflation continues to slow, it is reasonable to expect further rate cuts, but he says those decisions will be taken one meeting at a time.

Canadian banks are lowering their prime rates after the Bank of Canada cut its benchmark rate for the first time in four years. Banks including RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC and Scotiabank have lowered their rates to 6.95% from 7.2%, effective June 6th.

Bob Quinlan, realtor with RE/MAX Core Realty, says that Wednesday’s rate cut will give people who are considering getting into the housing market, some confidence, now that they key rate has gone down, rather than go up.

Mortgage broker Christine Beumann says that the rate adjustment “isn’t going to be a game changer for many Canadians” with mortgages and that biggest change is going to be “the sentiment towards where mortgage rates are headed.”

“We’ve been in such a high rate environment for so long that it finally feels like the government is starting to relieve some of that pressure, and that we are now starting the trend downward.” – Christine Beumann, Mortgage Broker

The Bank of Canada will decide whether to cut the key interest rate further at their next meeting on July 24th.

X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com