In February the federal government made changes to minimum down payment rules in order to curb the purchase of high-priced homes by those that can’t properly afford them. Now, it seems that the average home in Canada falls into that category.

The cost of owning a home is higher than ever in Canada, and if you’re a young, first time buyer in one of Canada’s major cities, chances are you’re stretching your dollar to afford your house. Thankfully in 2016 there are a bunch of ways to help offset the costs of home ownership.

The city of Ottawa announced earlier this week that it has approved new vehicle-for-hire regulations that will allow private transportation companies (PTCs) like Uber to operate legally in the city should they abide the rules.

Buying a decently-sized home in Toronto is no small thing. The latest average price for a condo is just over $400,000 and homes only get costlier from there.

The Bank of Canada has decided to hold interest rates steady at an overnight rate of 0.5%. Correspondingly the Bank Rate remains 0.75% and a deposit rate of 0.25%.

Ford pickup trucks and the F-150 in particular have been some of Canada’s most popular vehicles for years, so it should feel good for those who own the latest model to know they are driving the safest pickup truck on the market.