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This article examines another strategy in the Bank's approach to dealing with an uncertain world: the use of carefully articulated models to produce economic forecasts and to examine the implications of the various risks to those forecasts. Economic models are deliberate simplifications of a complex world that allow economists to make predictions that are reasonably accurate and that can be easily understood and communicated. By using several models, based on competing paradigms, the Bank minimizes policy errors that could result from relying on one view of the world and one philosophy of model design. The authors review some of the models currently used at the Bank, as well as the role of judgment in the projection process.

The third strategy employed by the Bank when dealing with uncertainty is the consideration of appropriate simple reaction functions or "rules" for the setting of the policy interest rate. Since John Taylor's presentation of his much-discussed rule, research on simple policy rules has exploded. Simple rules have several advantages. In particular, they are easy to construct and communicate and are believed by some to be robust, in the sense of generating good results in a variety of economic models. This article provides an overview of the recent research regarding the usefulness and robustness of simple monetary policy rules, particularly in models of the Canadian economy. It also describes and explains the role of simple rules in the conduct of monetary policy in Canada.

The government conducts regular consultations with market participants to support its strategic objectives of raising stable, low-cost funding and maintaining a well-functioning market for Government of Canada securities.

The Government of Canada plans to open a new benchmark issue at the next 10-year auction.

Today, we published our Update to the April Monetary Policy Report, in which we discuss economic and financial trends in the context of Canada's inflation-control strategy.

The Bank of Canada today released its Update to the April Monetary Policy Report, in which it discusses economic and financial trends in the context of Canada's inflation-control strategy.

t the time of the April Monetary Policy Report, it was evident that a robust economic recovery was underway in Canada.

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

The Bank of Canada today announced the appointment of Andrew Spence to the visiting economist position of Special Adviser for a one-year term. Mr. Spence will be taking leave from his current position as Global Head, Currency and Credit Markets Research with TD Securities, as of September 2002.

But first, I would like to address an important subject; that is, how to promote the efficient operation of Canada's financial markets. Rather than approaching this topic in a detailed, technical way, I want to speak about two qualities that are essential to their efficient operation: trust and transparency.