June 17, 2025
Understanding our policy interest rate
At the heart of the Bank of Canada’s monetary policy is the target for the overnight rate. See what it is—and what it means for you.
Explainers
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June 11, 2025
What is a tariff?
A tariff is a tax on imports from another country. It can increase the prices consumers and businesses pay for that good. -
February 18, 2025
What does the Bank of Canada do?
The Bank has five main areas of responsibility that affect Canadians’ everyday lives. -
February 18, 2025
How is the Bank of Canada run?
The Bank of Canada is a Crown corporation that is run independently from the government. -
February 18, 2025
Is the Bank of Canada independent from government?
The Bank of Canada is a Crown corporation that is owned by the federal government, but we are separate from the political process. -
February 3, 2025
Understanding quantitative easing
QE is a tool that encourages spending and investment—helping us to achieve our inflation target by stabilizing the economy. -
December 20, 2024
What is a central bank?
A central bank works to promote a country’s economic stability and its citizens’ financial well-being. -
July 28, 2022
Understanding seigniorage
At the Bank of Canada, we cover the cost of day-to-day business with “seigniorage,” which means earning money from issuing bank notes. -
December 24, 2021
Understanding the output gap
The output gap is the difference between what an economy actually produces and what it would produce in an ideal world. -
December 24, 2021
Understanding productivity
High productivity helps raise our standard of living and keep our economy competitive.