Bank of Canada balance sheet July 31, 2023

Summary#

Bank of Canada published an unaudited statement of its financial position as at July 31, 2023. The statement shows total assets of 357,830 (millions of dollars) and total liabilities plus deficiency equal to 357,830 (millions).

What it does#

• Presents a snapshot of the Bank of Canada balance sheet as at July 31, 2023 (amounts shown in millions of dollars).
• Major asset items listed include:
  • Cash and foreign deposits: 13
  • Loans and receivables (total): 5
  • Investments (total): 326,158
  • Derivatives — indemnity agreements with the Government of Canada: 30,560
  • Capital assets (total): 665
  • Other assets: 429
• Major liability items listed include:
  • Bank notes in circulation: 117,739
  • Deposits (total): 230,030 (including Government of Canada: 49,585; Members of Payments Canada: 169,857; other deposits: 10,588)
  • Securities sold under repurchase agreements: 13,409
  • Other liabilities: 304
  • Total liabilities: 361,482
• The statement also shows the Bank’s equity/deficiency accounts, including an accumulated deficit of (4,597) and a total deficiency of (3,652).
• The document is signed by Coralia Bulhoes (Chief Financial Officer) and Tiff Macklem (Governor) on August 22, 2023. It is described as unaudited.

Who's affected#

• Government of Canada, which appears as a deposit holder and counterparty in indemnity arrangements.
• Members of Payments Canada, shown here as large depositors (169,857).
• Financial-market participants and analysts who track central bank balance sheets and exposures.
• The general public may notice headline figures such as bank notes in circulation (117,739), but the item is mainly a technical financial disclosure.

Why it matters#

• It gives a clear, official snapshot of the size and composition of the Bank of Canada balance sheet at a single date.
• Key figures—like the large stock of investments (326,158), deposits (230,030), and bank notes in circulation (117,739)—help people who follow public finances, monetary policy, or financial stability understand the Bank’s current positions.
• The reported total deficiency of (3,652) and the accumulated deficit ((4,597)) are notable bookkeeping items; the statement is unaudited, so numbers may be refined later.
• The listed indemnity exposure with the Government of Canada (30,560) highlights a specific contingent or derivative-related item that analysts may watch.