by Paul C. Bourque, K.C. and Douglas M. Hyndman Parliament discontinued funding for the Canadian Securities Transition Office in 2021, bringing an end to Canada’s most ambitious effort to establish a national securities commission, create a national framework for managing capital markets systemic risk, and strengthen the regime for the criminal enforcement of securities laws. […]
Sixth Meeting of the C.D. Howe Institute Domestic Stability Buffer Council At its recent meeting, in a split vote, the C.D. Howe Institute’s Domestic Stability Buffer Council (DSBC) recommended that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) maintain its Domestic Stability Buffer (DSB) at 3.5 percent at its upcoming setting. A slim majority of council […]
June 3, 2026 – In a split vote, the C.D. Howe Institute’s Domestic Stability Buffer Council (DSBC) recommended that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) maintain the Domestic Stability Buffer (DSB) at 3.5 percent at this month’s setting. Four of the seven Council members voted to hold the buffer steady, while three […]
by Mawakina Bafale and Jamey Hubbs Since its creation in 1987, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has served as Canada’s federal micro-prudential regulator, operating under a single-head governance model that was suitable at the time but has not undergone a major review in nearly three decades. Particularly following the 2008 financial […]
May 21, 2026 – Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the mandate and activities of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) have expanded significantly in response to a more complex and rapidly evolving financial system. Yet its institutional structure has not undergone a major review in nearly 30 years, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Fit for Purpose: Modernizing […]
by Thorsten V. Koeppl Data from the past 25 years show that natural disasters are happening more frequently in Canada, increasing overall losses from such events. Insurance markets face two main challenges when insuring against natural disasters: first, repeated large losses can strain underwriting capacity, driving up prices and reducing insurance availability; and second, extreme […]
May 14, 2026 – As natural disasters become more frequent, Canada’s insurance system faces mounting pressure from extreme risks, including solvency concerns and strained underwriting capacity. Without a mechanism to smooth losses over time, a series of tail events or a large disaster such as a major earthquake can weaken insurers’ ability to underwrite risk, leading to higher premiums and […]
From: Peter MacKenzie and Mark Zelmer To: Digital finance watchers Date: May 1, 2026 Re: How to Escape US Dollar Domination in Canada’s Digital Finance Future In the span of three weeks this March, Canada crossed two milestones in digital finance. First, the Bank of Canada, RBC, TD, and Export Development Canada completed Project Samara, […]
From: Glen HodgsonTo: Canadian Climate WatchersDate: April 24, 2026 Re: Flood and Fires: It’s (Still) Time for Some Insurance Plans Spring flooding is once again severe across the country, with climate change the likely driver. The bill isn’t in, but for thousands of homeowners and businesses, insured, and uninsured losses will be huge. This is yet another wake-up call. We need improved risk management and climate adaptation, since severe flooding, wildfires and other natural disasters are on the way. A […]
22 avril 2026 – Des changements ciblés dans la manière dont les règles prudentielles sont calibrées et appliquées par le Bureau du surintendant des institutions financières (BSIF) peuvent permettre de débloquer davantage de financement pour les entreprises canadiennes, selon un nouveau communiqué du groupe de travail de l’Institut C.D. Howe sur les exigences prudentielles du BSIF et le financement des entreprises. Le groupe de travail, composé de neuf membres et créé en 2026 en réponse aux déclarations du régulateur visant à accroître l’accès au crédit pour les entreprises canadiennes dans un contexte de défis mondiaux, avait pour mandat de formuler des observations et des recommandations ciblées sur les réformes proposées par le BSIF. Le groupe de travail a structuré ses recommandations en propositions à court terme et à long terme. À court terme, les membres soutiennent que la politique prudentielle peut avoir le plus grand […]
April 22, 2026 – Targeted changes to how prudential rules are calibrated and applied by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) can unlock more financing for Canadian businesses, according to a new communiqué from the C.D. Howe Institute’s Task Force on OSFI Prudential Requirements and Business Lending. The nine-member task force, established in 2026 in response to statements from the regulator on increasing credit to Canadian businesses amid global challenges, was mandated […]
Rethinking Prudential Rules to Strengthen Canada’s Economy Through Improved Business Lending Second and Final Meetings of the C.D. Howe Institute Task Force on OSFI Prudential Requirements and Business Lending Introduction The C.D. Howe Institute Task Force on Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Prudential Requirements and Business Lending has met three times since […]
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by Paul C. Bourque, K.C. and Douglas M. Hyndman Parliament discontinued funding for the Canadian Securities Transition Office in 2021, bringing an end to Canada’s most ambitious effort to establish a national securities commission, create a national framework for managing capital markets systemic risk, and strengthen the regime for the criminal enforcement of securities laws. […] 
Sixth Meeting of the C.D. Howe Institute Domestic Stability Buffer Council At its recent meeting, in a split vote, the C.D. Howe Institute’s Domestic Stability Buffer Council (DSBC) recommended that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) maintain its Domestic Stability Buffer (DSB) at 3.5 percent at its upcoming setting. A slim majority of council […] 
by Mawakina Bafale and Jamey Hubbs Since its creation in 1987, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has served as Canada’s federal micro-prudential regulator, operating under a single-head governance model that was suitable at the time but has not undergone a major review in nearly three decades. Particularly following the 2008 financial […] 
by Thorsten V. Koeppl Data from the past 25 years show that natural disasters are happening more frequently in Canada, increasing overall losses from such events. Insurance markets face two main challenges when insuring against natural disasters: first, repeated large losses can strain underwriting capacity, driving up prices and reducing insurance availability; and second, extreme […] 
From: Peter MacKenzie and Mark Zelmer To: Digital finance watchers Date: May 1, 2026 Re: How to Escape US Dollar Domination in Canada’s Digital Finance Future In the span of three weeks this March, Canada crossed two milestones in digital finance. First, the Bank of Canada, RBC, TD, and Export Development Canada completed Project Samara, […] 
From: Glen HodgsonTo: Canadian Climate WatchersDate: April 24, 2026 Re: Flood and Fires: It’s (Still) Time for Some Insurance Plans Spring flooding is once again severe across the country, with climate change the likely driver. The bill isn’t in, but for thousands of homeowners and businesses, insured, and uninsured losses will be huge. This is yet another wake-up call. We need improved risk management and climate adaptation, since severe flooding, wildfires and other natural disasters are on the way. A […] 
Rethinking Prudential Rules to Strengthen Canada’s Economy Through Improved Business Lending Second and Final Meetings of the C.D. Howe Institute Task Force on OSFI Prudential Requirements and Business Lending Introduction The C.D. Howe Institute Task Force on Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Prudential Requirements and Business Lending has met three times since […]