The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has released a set of proposed guidelines for how lenders give cash-strapped mortgage borrowers help, including lengthening the time it takes for homeowners to pay down their loan, allowing mortgages to expand beyond their original size and not charging penalties for any relief. The Globe's Erica Alini and Rachelle Younglai write that the FCAC proposals are aimed at ensuring fairness and consistency in terms of relief offered for struggling borrowers. The plan was highlighted in the federal budget this week in a clear sign that Ottawa endorses the idea of allowing mortgages to grow to keep payments down. Borrowers have faced increasing pressure with every Bank of Canada interest-rate hike. Those with variable-rate mortgages have immediately paid more interest. As a result, many variable-rate borrowers have either had to increase their monthly payment or had their amortization period drastically extended. The FCAC said it developed the guidelines for mortgage borrowers at risk of missing monthly payments because of what it called "exceptional circumstances." The FCAC did not define "exceptional circumstances."