- Reduce the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with a loan to value ratio of more than 80 per cent. This will significatnly reduce the total interest payments Canadian families make on their mortgages, allowing Canadian families to build up equity in their homes more quickly, and help Canadians pay off their mortgages before they retire.
- Lower the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages to 85% from 90% of the value of their homes. This will promote saving through home ownership and limit the repackaging of consumer debt into mortgages guaranteed by taxpayers.
- Withdraw government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes, such as home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. This will ensure that risks associated with consumer debt products used to borrow funds unrelated to house purchases are managed by the financial institutions and not by borne by taxpayers.
These changes above will take effect March 18, 2011 with the exception of insured HELOC (bullet 3) will take effect April 18, 2011.