Bank of Canada balance sheet snapshot

Summary#

The Bank of Canada published an unaudited statement of financial position as at September 30, 2022 (published November 5, 2022). It shows total assets and total liabilities and equity of $431,863 million (amounts are in millions of dollars).

What it does#

• Gives a snapshot of the Bank of Canada balance sheet at September 30, 2022 (unaudited).
• Key asset figures:
  • Total assets: $431,863 million.
  • Investments (mostly government bonds and similar): $398,774 million.
  • Loans and receivables (including securities under resale agreements): $438 million.
  • Derivatives — indemnity agreements with the Government of Canada: $31,535 million.
  • Capital assets (property, equipment, intangibles, leases): $669 million.
  • Other assets: $435 million.
• Key liability and equity figures:
  • Bank notes in circulation: $116,652 million.
  • Total deposits: $288,878 million, made up of:
    • Government of Canada deposits: $75,893 million.
    • Members of Payments Canada deposits: $199,707 million.
    • Other deposits: $13,278 million.
  • Securities sold under repurchase agreements: $24,885 million.
  • Total liabilities: $430,909 million.
  • Total equity: $954 million (including share capital $5 million, statutory reserves $125 million, investment revaluation reserve $427 million, actuarial gains reserve $397 million).
• The statement is signed and dated October 27, 2022 by Coralia Bulhoes (Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accountant) and Tiff Macklem (Governor).

Who's affected#

• People and groups who follow public finance and monetary policy, including:
  • Economists and financial analysts.
  • Journalists and researchers covering central bank activity.
  • Market participants watching central-bank holdings and liquidity.
  • Government and agencies that interact with the Bank.
• Ordinary members of the public are indirectly affected because the central bank’s balance sheet reflects actions that influence money supply, interest rates and financial stability.

Why it matters#

• The statement shows the size and composition of Canada’s central-bank balance sheet at a point in time. That matters because those holdings and liabilities are part of how the Bank conducts monetary policy and supports the financial system.
• Large holdings of government bonds, high deposits, and the amount of bank notes in circulation are indicators people watch to understand monetary conditions and liquidity in markets.
• Because this report is unaudited, it is a quick official snapshot rather than a final audited account.