Distributing Sovereign Debt in a Rising Debt Environment: Outcomes from Canada’s 2024 Debt Distribution Framework Review Staff analytical paper 2026-18 William Bradley, Jeffrey Gao This paper documents Canada’s recent review of its sovereign debt distribution framework (DDF). Informed by a context of record-high debt issuance since the previous DDF review, along with comparisons with sovereign peers and insights from market participants, the review identified an important need to broaden Canada’s dealer base internationally to support a larger and more diverse set of investors. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical paper JEL Code(s): G, G1, G18, G2, G28, H, H6, H63 Research Theme(s): Financial markets and funds management, Funds management, Market functioning, Market structure, Financial system, Financial institutions and intermediation
Integrating Non-traditional Data and AI into Central Banking: A Canadian Perspective Staff analytical paper 2026-17 James Chapman, Ajit Desai, Maryam Haghighi, James (Jim) C. MacGee This paper reviews how central banks are integrating non traditional data and artificial intelligence (AI) into policy analysis and operations. Using the Bank of Canada’s experience, it examines emerging applications, governance challenges, and strategic choices for responsibly scaling AI to enhance insight, efficiency, and institutional resilience. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical paper JEL Code(s): C, C4, C45, C5, C55, C8, C88, L, L2, L23, M, M1, M15, O, O3, O33 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Monetary policy, Monetary policy tools and implementation, Money and payments, Payment and financial market infrastructures
Communicating the Future Direction of Policy Staff analytical paper 2026-16 Jonathan Witmer, Monica Jain This note discusses several ways the BoC could increase communication around future policy, leveraging methods other central banks have used, and discussing the pros and cons of each method for the BoC, keeping in mind that policy rate forecasts typically are not informative beyond 1 or 2 quarters. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical paper JEL Code(s): D, D8, D83, E, E5, E58 Research Theme(s): Monetary policy, Monetary policy framework and transmission, Monetary policy tools and implementation
How Canada’s counter-tariffs impacted consumer prices Sparks at Bank article Alberto Cavallo, Olena Kostyshyna, Oleksiy Kryvtsov, Matías Vieyra For six months in 2025, Canada imposed counter tariffs on a wide range of goods from the United States. This short and well defined episode offers a unique opportunity to examine how Canadian retailers adjust prices in response to tariffs—and how retailers’ expectations and transparency with consumers affect pricing decisions. Content Type(s): Staff research, Sparks at Bank article Research Theme(s): Monetary policy, Inflation dynamics and pressures, Structural challenges, International trade, finance and competitiveness
Patterns and Determinants of Global Cryptocurrency Flows Staff working paper 2026-15 Christian Friedrich, Laura Zhao This paper analyzes cross-border cryptocurrency flows, focusing on Bitcoin and four major stablecoins. Using data for 162 countries, we identify the key determinants, including responses to weak economic conditions and demand for remittances. A COVID-19 case study supports these findings and emphasizes the role of cryptocurrencies in global finance. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers JEL Code(s): E, E4, F, F3, F32, F38, F5, F51, G, G1, G15, G2, G23 Research Theme(s): Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech
To Tokenize, or Not to Tokenize: The Design Question for a Central Bank Digital Currency Staff working paper 2026-14 Jonathan Chiu, Cyril Monnet, Oliver Xu This paper develops a general equilibrium model to assess central bank digital currency (CBDC) design in a monetary system where traditional banks and “crypto banks” (i.e., banks that issue stablecoins) coexist. We compare tokenized and non-tokenized CBDC, showing that their desirability depends on the reliability of private money provision, the availability of collateral assets and the features of the crypto sector. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers JEL Code(s): E, E5, E50, E58 Research Theme(s): Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech, Payment and financial market infrastructures
A buoy on funding tides: How client repo demand and dealer constraints lifted CORRA Staff analytical paper 2026-15 Jean-Sébastien Fontaine, Neil Maru, Sofia Tchamova Pressures on the CORRA benchmark can emerge from the interaction of client borrowing behavior, dealer balance sheet constraints, even if the level of settlement balances is in a range deemed sufficient to meet the requirement of the payment system and the prudential demand of its members. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical paper JEL Code(s): E, E5, E52, G, G2, G23 Research Theme(s): Financial markets and funds management, Market functioning, Monetary policy, Monetary policy tools and implementation
Canada’s shifting position in global maritime trade Sparks at Bank article Geoffrey R. Dunbar, Patrick McKelvey, Tessa Peer, Walter Steingress, Ben Tomlin Canada’s economic prosperity depends on trade. But global maritime shipping networks have been reshaped in ways that have reduced Canada’s relative connectivity and carrying capacity. This less-central role for the country could mean greater exposure to supply chain disruptions that could increase the cost of doing business. Content Type(s): Staff research, Sparks at Bank article Research Theme(s): Monetary policy, Inflation dynamics and pressures, Structural challenges, International trade, finance and competitiveness
When parents co‑sign a mortgage to help their adult children buy their first home Sparks at Bank article Shaoteng Li Rising housing costs are leading to an increasing share of first-time homebuyers seeking financial support from their parents. Specifically, Canada has experienced a noticeable rise in instances of parents co-signing mortgages with their adult children. This practice allows buyers to purchase more expensive homes—but it can also make both parties vulnerable to financial disruptions. Content Type(s): Staff research, Sparks at Bank article Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Household and business credit
Inflation vs Inclusion: Stabilization Policy in the Wake of the Pandemic Staff working paper 2026-13 Felipe Alves, Giovanni L. Violante As the economy emerges from a crisis, macroeconomic policy confronts a dilemma: a protracted stimulus can foster a more inclusive labor market recovery, yet risks igniting inflation that ultimately undermines workers’ welfare through real income erosion. This tension amplifies in the presence of the ZLB and aggregate capacity constraints. We embed this insight into a quantitative model of the US economy. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers JEL Code(s): E, E2, E21, E24, E3, E31, E32, E5, E52, J, J2, J24, J6, J64 Research Theme(s): Models and tools, Economic models, Monetary policy, Inflation dynamics and pressures, Monetary policy framework and transmission