Browse press

All of us at the Bank of Canada share a deep sorrow at the loss of so many lives in the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States. Among those who died were innocent citizens of many nationalities, including Canadians. To their families, friends, and colleagues we extend our heartfelt sympathy.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate* by three-quarters of one percentage point to 2 3/4 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is correspondingly lowered, and the Bank Rate is now 3 per cent.

In July 2001, the Bank announced its intention to expand the list of collateral eligible for use in the Large Value Transfer System (LVTS), for loans made to direct participants in LVTS and the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS), and to secure bank note withdrawals. Effective 1 November 2001, the list of eligible collateral will be expanded and will comprise the following:

Summary results of a survey of activity in Canadian foreign exchange and derivatives markets conducted by the Bank of Canada in April 2001 are now available. Similar surveys were undertaken in over 45 other countries during the same month, and the central banks of many of those countries are also releasing their results today.

A key federal debt strategy objective is maintaining a well-functioning market in Government of Canada securities. In keeping with the government's commitment to market consultations in domestic debt management issues, in August 2001 consultations were held with market participants on potential operational enhancements.

The Bank of Canada today released its schedule of eight dates for announcing decisions on its key policy interest rate for 2002.

In the discussion paper titled "Proposed repurchase program for the Bank of Canada's holdings of Government of Canada securities", comments on the Bank's proposal were requested by the end of September. Please note that this comment period has been extended to the end of October.

Right now, last week's tragic events in the United States are uppermost in people's minds. Like millions of people around the globe, Canadians are very concerned about the situation. We all share in the sheer horror of what has happened.

Today, we released a section of the speech that I was to give in Moncton two days ago. It deals with current economic developments. The speech was postponed in light of last week's tragic events in the United States.

This week's meeting of the Bank of Canada Board of Directors scheduled for Moncton will now take place in Ottawa. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board in late October will be held in Moncton.