The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) was created to contribute to public confidence in the Canadian financial system.
Under our legislation, our mandate is to:
- Supervise institutions and pension plans to determine whether they are in sound financial condition and meeting minimum plan funding requirements respectively, and are complying with their governing law and supervisory requirements;
- Promptly advise institutions and plans in the event there are material deficiencies and take or require management, boards or plan administrators to take necessary corrective measures expeditiously;
- Advance and administer a regulatory framework that promotes the adoption of policies and procedures designed to control and manage risk;
- Monitor and evaluate system-wide or sectoral issues that may impact institutions negatively.
OSFI’s legislation has due regard to the need to allow institutions to compete effectively and take reasonable risks. Our legislation also recognizes that management, boards of directors and plan administrators are ultimately responsible and that financial institutions and pension plans can fail.
The Office of the Chief Actuary, which is part of OSFI, provides actuarial services to the Government of Canada.