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The Bank of Canada has been contributing to the goal of an efficient financial system in a number of ways. The Bank's monetary policy aims to keep inflation low, stable, and predictable.

Productivity plays a critical role when it comes to our national standard of living. Productivity growth is the main element that contributes to continued improvements in real incomes and overall prosperity. Rising productivity lets businesses pay higher wages, while keeping costs down, employment high, and profits coming in. That's why economists like me spend a lot of time thinking about ways to improve the productivity of our economy.

When I talk about the "financial system," I am referring to financial institutions and markets, the infrastructure, laws, and regulations that govern and support their operations, and the macroeconomic framework within which they operate. My message for you is that improving the efficiency of Canada's financial system is imperative.

Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said today it is imperative that Canada work to enhance the efficiency of its financial system.

Three recipients, Detective Carmine Palermo, Detective Constable Thomas Hancock, and Detective Constable Harjit Sangha, of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Fraud Squad, have been selected for their impressive initiative and creative work on "Project Greenback". This project resulted in the seizure of approximately $3 million in counterfeit bank notes, as well as the successful dismantling of multiple counterfeit production facilities in the Toronto area.

For five years, the research program here at Schulich has helped to support and nurture a Canadian academic community focused on financial services. In doing so, the program has encouraged researchers to fill the gaps in our knowledge and help policy-makers and regulators to do a better job. After five years, it's useful to think back and recall the motivations for establishing this program in the first place.

The program this evening focuses on the value of public service and the importance of economic and financial literacy for the well-being of Canadians. These two themes have special significance for me, as my career has involved time spent in the public service as well as teaching.

In a speech to the Speakers Forum, Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said today that Canada's macroeconomic policy framework is protecting the economy from both persistently high inflation and the threat of deflation.

I'll discuss what's happening to prices in the economy and how Canada's macroeconomic policy framework protects it from the risks of persistent inflation or deflation. Finally, I will update our outlook for the Canadian economy.

In highlighting the Bank's commitment to contribute to the economic well-being of Canadians, Mr. Dodge said that the Bank must continue to "conduct monetary policy so as to promote sustained economic growth, create conditions conducive to rising investment, employment, and incomes, and encourage a more stable macroeconomic environment." He stressed that the best contribution monetary policy can make to such an outcome is "to keep future inflation low, stable, and predictable."