Canada finance minister defends central bank independence after rate comment

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS - Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland defended the central bank's independence on Wednesday after her comments welcoming the Bank of Canada's decision not to increase its key interest rate raised concerns to the contrary.

"My number one priority is to use all the tools at my disposal, and to work with partners at other levels of government across Canada, to ensure that interest rates can come down as soon as possible," Freeland added. The comments"create the impression that political interference risks influencing" the BoC's decisions, he said.

Freeland said later on Wednesday that her comment was meant to reflect her sympathy for the financial pains endured by Canadians from higher interest rates.

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