Will the Bank of Canada start cutting rates next year?

Plus, lack of training for jail staff and the decline in high school test results [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. CBC and Radio-Canada are about to cut 600 jobs. [Here's what we know.]( Here’s the latest on the Bank of Canada’s upcoming interest rate announcement, the inquest into Soleiman Faqiri’s jailhouse death and Canadian teens’ performance in an international test. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld economy [The Bank of Canada is expected to keep the interest rate at 5 per cent — will cuts start next year?]( Economists and markets agree the central bank is likely to hang onto its 5 per cent key overnight lending rate on Wednesday, Josh Rubin reports. But with the Canadian economy grinding to a halt and inflation slowing substantially, what’s next? "While we’re expecting a dovish lean from the BoC relative to past interest rate decisions ... we don’t see the BoC rushing to cutting rates," wrote RBC economists Nathan Janzen and Claire Fan in a research note. [Here’s why we may have to wait until 2024 to see a reduction in interest rates](. - The aftermath: As inflation and mortgage rates rise, [more retirees may be forced to sell — and hit the road](. - More: The GTA saw more homes being listed in November, despite sales falling, a new report says. [Here’s how interest rates are playing a role](. Coroner's Office/Supplied Photo mental health [Jail staff are not trained in de-escalating mentally ill inmates, Soleiman Faqiri inquest hears]( The guards at the Ontario jail where the high-profile death of Soleiman Faqiri took place did not receive training to de-escalate incidents involving a psychotic episode and haven’t had any such training since, a correctional officer who was involved in restraining Faqiri testified at a coroner’s inquest Monday. He concluded that jail is not an "appropriate or humane place" for people with mental illness, Mahdis Habibinia reports. [Here’s how that lack of training appeared to play out in Faqiri’s last moments](. - More: Speaking publicly for the first time Monday, guard David Surowiec said that at the time of the struggle, he didn’t notice “any obvious breaches” of policy and was not concerned about Faqiri's physical health. Looking back, he said, “I can think of all kinds of breaches. I believe I counted 60-something." - The aftermath: Surowiec said the ministry did not offer him any support following Faqiri's death, adding he has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and has lost his partner. Canadian Press/Chris Young education [Global high school test scores show a “worrying” decline]( Canadian teens performed well on an international math, reading and science test, but — in line with a trend seen in some countries — scores in all three subjects declined over the past two decades, a new global ranking shows. “In more than two decades of global PISA tests, the OECD average score has not changed drastically between consecutive assessments. But this cycle saw an unprecedented drop in performance,” the report reads. [Here’s how Ontario students did](. - Go deeper: OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher told the Star that COVID-19 played a role, but the downward trend began before the pandemic. Other factors include a general decline in perceived teacher support and the “extensive use of technology for leisure.” - More: Canada could do better with “a curriculum that is more ambitious and has high expectations for students,” Schleicher said, noting there has been a tendency in recent years to “sacrifice rigour” in order to please students. [Cookies] Need a new favourite holiday cookie? Every day till Christmas, Star journalists are taking turns baking recipes from our extensive archives for our new Cookie Calendar newsletter, [brought to you by SickKids Get Better Gifts](. Follow our holiday baking adventures — and get some inspiration for your own — by [signing up for free here](. WHAT ELSE [Here’s how the Greens dealt a stunning blow to the NDP]( and stole Kitchener Centre in last week’s provincial byelection. Opposition parties are demanding House Speaker Greg Fergus [resign after he appeared in Liberal tribute](. Doug Ford’s Tories claim Bonnie Crombie is out of touch with “everyday people.” [This is her response](. [Thousands of people rallied on Parliament Hill against antisemitism]( with shouts of “bring them home.” A city councillor is asking Toronto Public Library to [cancel the visit of a Jewish American author who has been sharply critical of Israel](. [Quebec film entrepreneur Daniel Langlois has died in “tragic circumstances”]( in Dominica, leaving four people in custody. [Paul Bernardo is a “psychopath” who belongs in a maximum-security prison]( a victims’ lawyer told a House committee. Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared an officer who [drove over a man sleeping in Earlscourt Park](. Complicated challenges can make us feel powerless. [But small acts of kindness can make a big difference on Christmas](. A kangaroo has been found safe after days on the run. [Officials are now asking why it was in Oshawa in the first place](. In the fallout from Omid Scobie’s book, [Kate Middleton came off the worst](. [Gaslighting is real — and it's abuse]( new research reveals. POV Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images [There is zero chance that another month of killing will achieve any of Israel’s announced war aims.]( CLOSE-UP Sanjay Kanojia/AFP via Getty Images INDIA: Labourers build a floating pontoon bridge ahead of the upcoming annual Hindu religious fair “Magh Mela,” along the shores of Ganges River in Prayagraj on Monday. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_204886). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. HOLIDAY SALE Now only $39.99 for 1 year [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](