Canada finance minister defends central bank independence after rate comment

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. In a widely expected decision, the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady at a 22-year high of 5%. Shortly after that Freeland issued a statement saying the central bank's decision "is welcome relief for Canadians."