Speeches and appearances

These remarks are based on a to the Vancouver Board of Trade, 13 September 2006.

Our primary objective at the Bank is to promote the economic and financial welfare of Canadians. Over the years, we have learned that the best contribution that monetary policy can make in this regard is to give Canadians confidence in the future value of their money. We do this by keeping inflation low, stable, and predictable.

The past five years have indeed been a period of great and relatively rapid economic change, both here in Saskatchewan and across the country. In my remarks today, I'd like to describe this change and discuss its significance to our economic well-being.

The preamble of this bill addresses some very important issues: the need for Canadians to trust in the management of the public purse, and the importance of openness and accountability. I can assure you that the Bank of Canada takes these issues very seriously.

The strengths of the twin cities - in research, advanced manufacturing, and information technology, among other sectors - are well known. Less well known, perhaps, is the region's success in responding effectively to changes in the world economy.