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This article summarizes the proceedings of an international research conference hosted by the Bank of Canada in November 2000. The conference marked the fiftieth anniversary of Canada's adoption of a flexible exchange rate, and its title recognizes the seminal contribution of Professor Milton Friedman's article "The Case for Flexible Exchange Rates." His keynote address to the conference is also summarized in the article. The conference papers re-examine many of the arguments raised by Friedman using recent developments in economic theory and econometric techniques. They investigate the experience of a wide range of industrialized and emerging-market economies. The main findings are that a strong case can be made for flexible exchange rates in economies that are large commodity exporters and that have credible low-inflation monetary policies and relatively well-developed financial systems.

At the Bank of Canada, we have worked hard over the past several years to define our goals and our methods for achieving them. We have continued to strengthen our monetary policy framework, and we have established priorities in all areas of our operations to help us meet our strategic objectives. In 2002, the Bank set out a medium-term plan for the period 2003–05. The plan’s clearly defined policy frameworks and priorities were critical in guiding our analysis and our decisions in 2003, a year in which Canadians across the country were affected by a number of severe and unanticipated events.

The Bank of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark E. Caplan as Senior Representative and Director, Toronto Office (Financial Markets), effective September 2008. Mr. Caplan will replace Ross MacKinnon, who is retiring.

Governor Mark Carney discusses globalization, financial stability and employment.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 1/2 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the Bank Rate remains at 2 3/4 per cent.

Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge today reviewed Canada's economic outlook and prospects for monetary policy in the context of the evolving world economy.

Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn A. Wilkins explains that Canada is well-positioned to secure prosperity and avoid a long period of slow growth if we take the right steps.

Mr. Little, who will join the Bank in September, is a recently retired journalist from the Globe and Mail, where he spent most of the past two decades writing about economics and public finance.

Canada’s economy can build on its traditional strengths by taking advantage of export opportunities in rapidly growing service sectors to overcome the current challenging environment, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz said today.