Who prints our bank notes?

The Bank of Canada Act of 1934 stipulates that the Bank of Canada has exclusive authority to issue bank notes. In that capacity, it handles the design, production, control, and distribution of notes. It is also responsible for preserving public confidence in our bank notes.

Because the printing process is complex and requires specialized equipment and knowledge, the Bank does not print bank notes. The printing is handled by two Canadian firms: BA Banknote Inc. and the Canadian Bank Note Company Limited.

Each firm prints 40 bank notes to a sheet. BA Banknote Inc. prints sheets of 10 notes down and four across, and the Canadian Bank Note Company Limited prints sheets of eight notes down and five across.