By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
As real estate prices increase, mortgage debt increases with it. And something else is happening at the same time - more people are taking out "long-term mortgages." CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka worries about the impact it will have on our retirement years.
Ellen Roseman is a business writer at the Toronto Star.
Should you take your smartphone with you when you travel outside Canada? Only if you don't mind getting dinged with outrageously high data roaming costs.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
A group of provincial regulators - called the Canadian Securities Administrators - announced on Friday that they're scrapping a proposed overhaul of how the country's businesses look after their investors. CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka isn't surprised … and he explains why.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
The Canada Revenue Agency says a two-year probe has uncovered tens of millions of missing cash sales in the restaurant industry. For the CRA, this means a huge amount of illegal tax evasion. CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka has his own views on what should be done to address the problem.
By Kira Vermond, a Canadian freelance writer.
More Canadians are now caring for elderly family members themselves than ever before. In 2007 about 2.7 million Canadian adults aged 45 and over offered unpaid, informal care. That number continues to grow.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
The G20 Finance Ministers met this past weekend in St. Andrews, Scotland and discussed - among other things - an economic incentive plan for combating climate change. CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka is here to discuss why he believes these efforts are essentially useless, and what the developed countries must do if they are serious about carbon dioxide emissions.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
According to CIBC Economics, Canada's Employment Quality Index is falling even as the job market seems to be stabilizing. CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka explains what this index measures and what it will take to turn it – and the job market – around.
Ellen Roseman is a business writer at the Toronto Star.
Why has remuneration to real estate agents increased at the same rate as house prices? After all, realtors aren't doing any more work to sell properties during a housing boom. And why have discounters failed to get any traction? Good news - a tentative settlement between the federal Competition Bureau and the Canadian Real Estate Association is expected to have allow more discount brokers into the market, while allowing sellers to list their properties less expensively.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka reads a lot of different research reports and commentaries in a typical week. He just came across one that may be the most important one he’s seen this decade.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
There have been several calls this week for the Bank of Canada to “do something” about the Canadian dollar, the argument being that it’s artificially high and that’s hurting the economy. CBC business columnist Michael Hlinka argues that, in fact, it’s still too low – and we better get used to it.
