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Annual Report 2016

Available as: PDF

The Annual Report outlines the Bank’s activities and achievements in 2016. It includes the financial statements and a message from Governor Stephen S. Poloz.

Content Type(s): Publications, Annual Report

Related Information

Governor's Foreword

Economists love to debate the details, but for monetary policy, getting the big things right matters much more than getting the decimal points right. The past year illustrates this well, as the major economic themes we identified a year ago played out largely as expected.

Monetary Policy

The year 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the monetary policy framework that has helped the Bank of Canada promote low, stable and predictable inflation. The inflation targeting agreement with the Government of Canada was renewed, and the Bank will maintain a 2 per cent target for total consumer price inflation until 2021.

Currency

The Bank engaged Canadians in a consultation process to select an iconic Canadian woman to be featured on the first bank note of the next series in late 2018.

Contents

2016 at a Glance

A review of some key numbers related to the Bank of Canada’s work in 2016.

Bank of Canada Mandate and Planning Framework

The Bank has a robust planning framework in place to implement and operationalize its mandate and vision. Every three years, the Bank establishes a medium-term plan (MTP) to set out its strategic direction and objectives.

Financial System

The Bank collaborates with its partners in the public and private sectors on specific measures to build a more resilient financial system, including ongoing reforms to address weaknesses identified during the 2007–09 global financial crisis.

Funds Management

Consistent with the Government of Canada’s objectives, the debt program focused on raising stable and low cost funding for government programs and services, while maintaining a liquid and well-functioning market or Government of Canada securities.

Managing the Bank of Canada

A strong management and operating framework provides the foundation for the Bank of Canada’s core functions and activities.

Communications and Outreach

The Bank of Canada is committed to openness and transparency in communicating its policies and actions.

Global Engagement

The Bank of Canada’s work on the international stage helps it achieve its mandate each year. Understanding the global economy is essential to both formulating monetary policy in Canada and identifying risks to the financial system.

Governance of the Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada Act provides the legal authority and framework for governance of the Bank of Canada.

Risk Management

The Bank maintains a strong risk management culture and an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework that promotes the consistent management of strategic, operational and financial risks.

2016 Financial Results and Financial Statements

The Bank’s holdings of financial assets are generally driven by its role as the exclusive issuer of Canadian bank notes. The Bank invests the proceeds from the issuance of notes into Government of Canada securities that are acquired on a non-competitive basis.