Bank of Canada financial position Mar 31, 2022

Summary#

The Bank of Canada published an unaudited statement of its financial position as at March 31, 2022. It shows total assets and total liabilities plus equity of $486,872 million. The statement was signed on April 26, 2022 by Coralia Bulhoes (Chief Financial Officer) and Tiff Macklem (Governor).

What it does#

• Presents a point‑in‑time balance sheet. Amounts are shown in millions of dollars.
• Key asset numbers shown:
  • Cash and foreign deposits: $9 million
  • Loans and receivables (total): $15,563 million
  • Investments (total): $449,173 million (includes Government of Canada bonds carried at amortized cost $125,196 million and at fair value $263,579 million, plus other bond holdings)
  • Derivatives — indemnity agreements with the Government of Canada: $21,083 million
  • Capital assets (property, equipment, intangible, right‑of‑use): $682 million
  • Other assets: $363 million
• Key liabilities and equity shown:
  • Bank notes in circulation: $112,737 million
  • Deposits (total): $336,460 million (Government of Canada $91,024 million; Members of Payments Canada $234,255 million; other deposits $11,181 million)
  • Securities sold under repurchase agreements: $36,009 million
  • Other liabilities: $838 million
  • Total liabilities: $486,044 million
  • Total equity (share capital and reserves): $828 million
• The totals add up so assets equal liabilities plus equity: $486,872 million.

Who's affected#

• General public who follow public finances and central bank activity.
• Financial market participants and analysts who track central bank balance sheets.
• The federal government and entities that hold deposits with the Bank.
• Members of Payments Canada, since their deposit balances are reported.
• Researchers and journalists who use official financial snapshots.

Why it matters#

• It is a transparent, official snapshot of what the central bank owns and owes at a given date.
• The size and composition of assets (large holdings of government bonds and repurchase agreements) show how the Bank’s balance sheet supports financial markets and monetary operations.
• Figures like bank notes in circulation and deposits indicate money in use and short‑term funding relationships with the government and payment systems.
• The statement is unaudited and covers one date; it does not by itself explain policy decisions, but it provides data people use to understand the Bank’s exposures and role in the financial system.