Canadians' Net Worth Climbs to $5.6 trillionBMO Harris Private Banking Expert gives perspective on what's behind the increase and if it's just a temporary blip
What:
        A new report from Statistics Canada shows that Canadians are wealthier,
            as household net worth1 grew
            by $141 billion to $5.6 trillion during the second quarter of 2009. 
      While the gains mainly came from a more robust stock market, Statistics
        Canada also noted that Canadians took on more debt during the April-June
        time frame than during previous quarters.
      With the recession now coming to an end, these new statistics raise
        questions including: 
      
        -  Is this the beginning
            of sunnier times for investors, or will the upswing be short-lived?
 
        -  What investment
            sectors have led the way for Canadians to increase their net worth
            and which
        ones will outperform in 2010?
 
        -  With interest
            rates continuing to hover near record lows, is now a good time to
            borrow
        and invest as part of a longer term strategy?
 
        -  How can
        investors protect the gains they have made during 2009?
 
      
      Who:
      Paul Taylor, MBA, CFA - Senior
          Vice President & Chief Investment
        Officer, BMO Harris Private Banking. 
      Mr. Taylor is responsible
          for the management of over $11 billion of assets for BMO Harris Private
          Banking. He is a regular commentator on
        Canada's Business News Network and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's
        Nightly Business Report. 
      For
          news media interviews, please contact: 
          Martha McInnis, Toronto, 416-867-3996
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    1Net
    worth includes Canadians' household assets minus their liabilities.