C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council Calls for Bank of Canada to Hold Overnight Rate at 0.50 for the next year

May 19, 2016 — The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) today recommended that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, the very short-term interest rate it targets for monetary policy purposes, at 0.50 percent at its next announcement on May 25, 2016.  Looking ahead, the Council called for the Bank to hold the target at 0.50 percent over the next 12 months.

The MPC provides an independent assessment of monetary stance consistent with the Bank of Canada’s 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and CEO, chairs the Council.

Council members make recommendations for the Bank of Canada’s upcoming interest-rate announcement, the subsequent…

C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council Calls for Bank of Canada to Hold Overnight Rate at 0.50 through 2016; Looks for 0.75 Percent by April 2017

April 7, 2016 — The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) today recommended that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, the very short-term interest rate it targets for monetary policy purposes, at 0.50 percent at its next announcement on April 13, 2016.  Looking ahead, the Council called for the Bank to hold the target at 0.50 percent through the end of the year, raising it to 0.75 percent by April 2017.

The MPC provides an independent assessment of monetary stance consistent with the Bank of Canada’s 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and CEO, chairs the Council.

Council members make recommendations for the Bank of Canada’s upcoming…

Mounting Evidence: Findings from Natural Experiments in Inflation Targeting

International evidence shows the wide economic benefits of inflation targeting, says a ground-breaking C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Mounting Evidence: Findings from Natural Experiments in Inflation Targeting,” author Michael Parkin shows how the evidence broadly supports the merits of inflation targeting as a monetary policy tool for central banks that have clear independence. 

Looking for Liquidity: Banking and Emergency Liquidity Facilities

The Bank of Canada should start preparing for the next financial crisis, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Looking for Liquidity: Banking and Emergency Liquidity Facilities,” author Jeremy Kronick urges the Bank (BoC) to establish new permanent liquidity pools that would be instantly available in times of crisis.

More Angst Than Mystery In The Loonie’s Decline: Globe And Mail Op-ed

The ongoing decline of the Canadian dollar is generating many headlines and lots of angst. Of all the questions I receive from journalists and students, the cause of our currency’s fluctuations is surely the most common. But there really isn’t much of a mystery here – or at least there shouldn’t be.

Let’s start with the facts. Our dollar was worth 73 U.S. cents in 1995 and dropped to 63 cents by 2002. It then rose steadily to 93 cents by 2008 and kept rising to be above par in 2011. Over the past four years, the Canadian dollar has fallen again; it is now just above 70 cents.

Economists have long been studying the causes of exchange-rate fluctuations, especially after the collapse of the Bretton Woods agreement in the…

On growth, Stephen Poloz could use a little help: Globe and Mail Op-Ed

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz’s speech in Ottawa on Thursday got lots of attention. As usual, analysts and traders parsed it for clues about short-term interest rates. Economists noted the Governor’s compelling arguments for letting the Canadian dollar’s external value move as circumstances change. Less happy, however, is the intense focus on Mr. Poloz – and other central bankers – as masters of economic growth. Engineering sustainable increases in living standards is a task for which he and his counterparts around the world could really use some help.

On interest rates, the Governor’s speech highlighted the divergence between the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, responding to economic expansion by tightening, and other…

C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council Calls for Bank of Canada to Hold Overnight Rate at 0.50 Percent until mid-2016; Hike to 0.75 Percent by next November

November 26, 2015 — The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) today recommended that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, the very short-term interest rate it targets for monetary policy purposes, at 0.50 percent at its next announcement on December 2, 2015. Looking ahead, the Council called for the Bank to hold the target at 0.50 percent until May 2016 and hike it to 0.75 percent by November 2016.

The MPC provides an independent assessment of the monetary stance appropriate for the Bank of Canada as it pursues its 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and Chief Executive Officer, chairs the Council.

Council members make recommendations for…

C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council Calls for Bank of Canada to Hold Overnight Rate at 0.50 Percent through Mid-Year; Hike to 0.75 Percent by October 2016

October 15, 2015 — The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) today recommended that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, the very short-term interest rate it targets for monetary policy purposes, at 0.50 percent at its next announcement on October 21, 2015. Looking ahead, the Council called for the Bank to hold the target at 0.50 percent through to April of 2016 and hike it to 0.75 percent by October of 2016.

The MPC provides an independent assessment of the monetary stance appropriate for the Bank of Canada as it pursues its 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and Chief Executive Officer, chairs the Council.

Council members make…

One Percent? For Real? Insights from Modern Growth Theory about Future Investment Returns

Pension fund savers face a future of lower investment returns, states a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “One Percent? For Real? Insights from Modern Growth Theory about Future Investment Returns,” authors Steve Ambler and Craig Alexander project a 1 percent rate of real return for risk free investments like Treasury bills, forming […]

Un pour cent? Vraiment? Ce que la théorie économique moderne laisse présager quant au rendement futur des investissements

Les épargnants et les caisses de retraite doivent faire face à des rendements futurs inférieurs sur leurs investissements, affirme une nouvelle étude d’Institut C.D. Howe. Dans « Un pour cent? Vraiment? Ce que la théorie économique moderne laisse présager quant au rendement futur des investissements », les auteurs Steve Ambler et Craig Alexander prédisent un rendement réel […]

C.D. Howe Institute Monetary Policy Council Calls for Bank of Canada to Hold Overnight Rate at 0.50 Percent through Mid-Year; Hike to 0.75 Percent by September 2016

September 3, 2015 — The C.D. Howe Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC) today recommended that the Bank of Canada keep its target for the overnight rate, the very short-term interest rate it targets for monetary policy purposes, at 0.50 percent at its next announcement on September 9, 2015. Looking ahead, the Council called for the Bank to hold the target at 0.50 percent through to March of 2016 and hike it to 0.75 percent by September of 2016.

The MPC provides an independent assessment of the monetary stance appropriate for the Bank of Canada as it pursues its 2 percent inflation target. William Robson, the Institute’s President and Chief Executive Officer, chairs the Council.

Council members make…

Membership Application

Interested in becoming a Member of the C.D. Howe Institute? Please fill out the application form below and our team will be in touch with next steps. Note that Membership is subject to approval.

"*" indicates required fields

Please include a brief description, including why you’d like to become a Member.

Member Login

Not a Member yet? Visit our Membership page to learn more and apply.