A 2026 financial sector wish list

Published in The Hill Times. A country’s financial sector plays a crucial role in driving economic growth—Canada’s included.  Canadian financial institutions and markets have had a long and successful track record in transforming savings into loans that have stimulated economic growth, supplying the plumbing for the economy through its payment systems, and pooling risks so […]

If Canada Moves Too Slowly on Stablecoins, Here’s What’s at Risk

Canada can’t fall behind in the digital currency revolution. We famously adopted the bank machine before the US, and outpace most countries in digital adoption. On this episode of the C.D. Howe Institute Podcast, senior policy analyst Peter MacKenzie and fellow-in-residence Mark Zelmer tell host Michael Hainsworth why Stablecoin isn’t just a cryptocurrency fad, what […]

If Canada Moves Too Slowly on Stablecoins, Here’s What’s at Risk

Canada can’t fall behind in the digital currency revolution. We famously adopted the bank machine before the US, and outpace most countries in digital adoption. On this episode, senior policy analyst Peter MacKenzie and fellow-in-residence Mark Zelmer tell host Michael Hainsworth why Stablecoin isn’t just a cryptocurrency fad.               […]

Stablecoin Act is a Good Start, Now Let’s Get the Details Right

From: Mark Zelmer, Jeremy M. Kronick and Peter MacKenzie To: Crypto observersDate: December 8, 2025Re: Stablecoin Act is a Good Start, Now Let’s Get the Details Right Privately issued stablecoins – digital tokens designed to maintain a fixed value relative to a fiat currency – are often hailed as the next big leap in payments […]

We need to rebalance financial regulation in Canada

Published in Financial Post. Canada’s financial regulators have long had mandates that prioritize stability and consumer protection. That approach helped the country fend off the worst of the 2008 financial crisis. But Canada has a productivity problem, and growth and innovation are important, too. It is hard not to conclude the regulatory balance has shifted […]

“Sluggish, Not Stressed, But Elevated Risks”: Council Recommends Leaving Buffer at 3.5 Percent

“Sluggish, Not Stressed, But Elevated Risks”: Council Recommends Leaving Buffer at 3.5 Percent Fifth Meeting of the C.D. Howe Institute Domestic Stability Buffer Council At its meeting on November 12, 2025, 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) […]

No Severe Stress, But Rising Risks: Domestic Stability Buffer Should Hold at 3.5 Percent

November 20, 2025 – The C.D. Howe Institute’s Domestic Stability Buffer Council (DSBC) recommends that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) maintain the Domestic Stability Buffer (DSB) for Canada’s largest banks at 3.5 percent of total risk-weighted assets at its next setting in December.  The domestic stability buffer is the capital that Canada’s major […]

Learning to Fly: How Canadians Can Navigate a More Complex Financial Landscape

by Pierre-Carl Michaud and Bernard Morency Canadians are managing more money and more financial decisions than ever. Over the past 30 years, household wealth has more than doubled, while traditional supports like workplace pensions have faded. With fewer defined benefit plans and limited growth in public retirement benefits, people have to make more choices on […]

‘Flying Blind’: Canadians Face Complex Financial Landscape with Limited Know-How

November 11, 2025 – Earlier generations of retirees fared well despite limited financial literacy thanks to simpler pension systems. But what used to be a relatively simple flight plan has turned into a far more complicated journey for today’s Canadians, who face a self-directed financial landscape, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe […]

It’s time for Canada to take control of stablecoins

Published in The Hill Times. Privately-issued stablecoins—digital tokens designed to maintain a fixed value relative to a fiat currency—are often hailed as the next big leap in payments technology. They promise cheaper, instant, cross-border transfers, 24/7 settlement, and the efficiencies of blockchain infrastructure. But like any critical financial sector infrastructure, they need a regulatory framework […]

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