At the moment a Canadian dollar is worth a bit less than eighty-one cents US. I know the exchange rate mechanism is probably beneficial as it helps to correct imbalances. It's been a fairly wild year though. Back during the big bubble, when oodles of excess cash were floating around looking for a place, I felt richer. Last summer, the value of our buck increased beyond that of the US one and hit about $1.10. When things started to go to hell in a hand-basket, it quickly retreated.Unlike in the elephant to the south, average Joes here are more likely to know the current exchange rates. The rates affects us more obviously and directly. There are no crystal balls or I would've moved out a chunk of savings into US currency last August. Now, when shopping the world, I feel twenty percent poorer. Traders consider the Loonie a commodity-based currency. (There's no paper dollar only a $1 coin which boasts the bird.) So as oil is back down around $45 / barrel today my cents are worth less. Undoubtedly all my California vegetables, and not just lettuce, are headed higher.
The rates probably don't matter in the long run. Things probably do balance out. Yet, if one is prone to compulsive news gathering, we've got this additional situation to increase one's stress levels.