Bank of Canada Unaudited Balance Sheet

Summary#

This notice publishes the unaudited financial position of the Bank of Canada as at March 31, 2023. It shows total assets of $382,327 million, total liabilities of $383,959 million and a reported overall deficiency of $(1,632) million (including an accumulated deficit of $(2,596) million).

What it does#

• Publishes the Bank’s unaudited balance sheet (amounts stated in millions of dollars).
• Lists main asset categories and key amounts:
  • Cash and foreign deposits: $14 million.
  • Loans and receivables (total): $4 million.
  • Investments (total): $354,909 million, including Government of Canada bonds carried at amortized cost $101,710 million and at fair value $218,166 million, and securities lent or sold under repurchase agreements $16,333 million.
  • Derivatives / indemnity agreements: $26,283 million.
  • Capital assets (total): $663 million.
  • Other assets: $454 million.
• Lists main liability categories and key amounts:
  • Bank notes in circulation: $114,691 million.
  • Deposits (total): $253,478 million (including Government of Canada deposits $38,207 million and members of Payments Canada $204,976 million).
  • Securities sold under repurchase agreements: $15,485 million.
  • Other liabilities: $305 million.
• Shows equity and reserve items, including share capital $5 million, statutory and special reserves $100 million, investment revaluation reserve $450 million, and actuarial gains reserve $409 million.
• The statement is signed by Coralia Bulhoes (Chief Financial Officer) and Tiff Macklem (Governor) on April 26, 2023.

Who's affected#

• The general public and taxpayers who want transparency about the central bank’s finances.
• Financial market participants, economists and analysts who track central bank assets and liabilities.
• Government and fiscal policy watchers interested in the Bank’s holdings of Government of Canada bonds.
• The statements are routine Bank disclosures; no direct action is required by individuals or businesses.

Why it matters#

• It shows the size and composition of the Bank’s balance sheet, including that most assets are investments in government bonds.
• The figures (including the reported accumulated deficit) help analysts assess the Bank’s financial position and how it manages monetary operations.
• Publishing an unaudited, signed statement is a transparency measure that informs public debate about central-bank activities and government finances.