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Ottawa, 23 November 2006
The primary objective of Canada's monetary policy is to enhance the well-being of Canadians by contributing to sustained economic growth, rising levels of employment and improved living standards. Experience has clearly shown that the best way monetary policy can achieve this goal is by giving Canadian households and businesses confidence in the value of their money.
It has been 15 years since Canada adopted an inflation-targeting framework to guide its monetary policy. During this time, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has been reduced to a low, stable and predictable level of close to 2 per cent, real output has expanded at an average rate of 3 per cent per year and the unemployment rate has fallen to 30-year lows. Although a generally supportive international environment, coupled with significant domestic economic reforms and a prudent fiscal policy track, has played an important role in these positive developments, a key contributor has been Canada's monetary policy under the inflation-targeting framework. The joint commitment of the Government of Canada and the Bank of Canada to the inflation targets has helped anchor inflation expectations. It has also provided a more stable and certain economic environment in which Canadians can make their investment and spending decisions.
Based on this positive experience, the Government of Canada and the Bank of Canada agree to renew the inflation target on the following basis:
The Bank will continue its ongoing research into potential improvements in the monetary policy framework. Before the end of 2011, the Government and the Bank will review the experience over the period and the results of the research, and determine the appropriate target for the years ahead.
The commitment by the Government and the Bank to this inflation-control target will ensure that Canadians continue to derive the economic and social benefits from low, stable and predictable inflation and will underpin confidence in Canada's economic prospects in the coming years.
For further information, media may contact:
Eric Richer Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Finance 613 996-7861 |
David Gamble Media Relations Department of Finance 613 996-8080 |
Annie Portelance Media Relations Bank of Canada 613 782-8782 |
http://www.fin.gc.ca |