WHEREAS it is desirable to establish a central bank in Canada to regulate credit and currency in the best interests of the economic life of the nation, to control and protect the external value of the national monetary unit and to mitigate by its influence fluctuations in the general level of production, trade, prices and employment, so far as may be possible within the scope of monetary action, and generally to promote the economic and financial welfare of Canada;
THEREFORE, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Marginal note: Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the Bank of Canada Act .
Marginal note: Definitions
2 In this Act,
has the meaning assigned to that expression by section 2 of the Bank Act ; ( banque étrangère autorisée )
means the Bank of Canada; ( Banque )
means a bank listed in Schedule I or II to the Bank Act ; ( banque )
or means the Board of Directors of the Bank; ( conseil )
in sections 5, 6, 8, 13, 15, 30 and 31 means the Deputy Governor appointed under section 6; ( sous-gouverneur )
means a member of the Board of Directors other than the Governor or the Deputy Governor or the member acting by virtue of subsection 5(2); ( administrateur )
means the Governor of the Bank or the person acting for the Governor pursuant to this Act; ( gouverneur )
means the Minister of Finance; ( ministre )
means notes intended for circulation in Canada. ( billets )
Marginal note: Bank constituted
Marginal note: Head office
Marginal note: Board of Directors
Marginal note: Governor and Deputy Governor
Marginal note: Additional Deputy Governors
Marginal note: Powers of Governor
Marginal note: Directors
Marginal note: Selection of directors
Marginal note: Disclosure of conflict
Marginal note: Directors’ fees
11 The directors are entitled to receive for attendance at directors’ meetings and Executive Committee meetings such fees as may be fixed by the by-laws of the Bank.
Marginal note: Chair
12 The Governor is Chair of the Board of Directors.
Marginal note: Constitution of Executive Committee
Marginal note: Consultations
Marginal note: Officers and employees
Marginal note: Oath of directors and staff
16 Before a person starts to act as a director, an officer or an employee of the Bank, he or she shall take an oath, or make a solemn affirmation, of fidelity and secrecy, in the form set out in the schedule, before a commissioner for taking affidavits.
Marginal note: Capital
Marginal note: Powers and business
18 The Bank may
Marginal note: For greater certainty
18.01 For greater certainty, for the purposes of paragraphs 18(c), (d) and (g), the Bank may enter into a repurchase, reverse repurchase or buy-sellback agreement.
Marginal note: No invalidity
18.02 No act of the Bank, including a transfer of property, is invalid by reason only that the Bank was without the capacity or power to so act.
Marginal note: Policy established by Governor
Marginal note: Publication
19 If the Bank takes any action under subparagraph 18(g)(ii), the Bank shall cause a notice to be published in the Canada Gazette that the Governor has formed an opinion that there is a severe and unusual stress on a financial market or the financial system. The notice is to be published as soon as the Governor is of the opinion that its publication will not materially contribute to the stress to which the notice relates.
Marginal note: Acquisition of collateral securities
20 The Bank may
Marginal note: Publication of minimum interest rates on loans
21 The Bank shall at all times make public the minimum rate at which it is prepared to make loans or advances.
Marginal note: Time limit for unpaid debts
where an amount equal to the amount so paid has been paid by the Bank to the creditor in accordance with the relevant Act in respect of the federal financial institution or to the Receiver General under subsection (3).
Marginal note: Inspection
Marginal note: Prohibited business
23 The Bank shall not, except as authorized by this Act,
Marginal note: Fiscal agent of Canadian Government
Marginal note: Definition of
Marginal note: Sole right of note issue
Marginal note: Liability for notes
Marginal note: Reserve fund
27 The Bank shall establish a reserve fund and, after making the provision that the Board thinks proper for bad and doubtful debts, depreciation in assets, pension funds and all other matters that are properly provided for by banks, the ascertained surplus available from the operations of the Bank during each financial year is to be applied by the Board as follows:
Marginal note: Special reserve fund — unrealized valuation losses
Marginal note: Appointment of auditors
Marginal note: Weekly financial information
Marginal note: Fiscal year
Marginal note: No liability if in good faith
30.1 No action lies against Her Majesty, the Minister, any officer, employee or director of the Bank or any person acting under the direction of the Governor for anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the administration or discharge of any powers or duties that under this Act are intended or authorized to be executed or performed.
Marginal note: Holding office when ineligible
31 Every person who holds office or continues to hold office as the Governor or as a Deputy Governor or director of the Bank, knowing that he or she is not eligible for that office, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months or to both.
Marginal note: Verifying false statement, account or list
32 Every director, officer or auditor of the Bank who verifies any statement, account or list required to be furnished to the Minister pursuant to this Act, or who has to do with the delivering or transmitting of that statement, account or list to the Minister, knowing it to be false in any material particular, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months or to both.
Marginal note: Contravention of Act
33 Any officer of the Bank or any officer of a bank or any other person who fails or omits to comply with any provision of this Act is guilty of an offence and, unless otherwise provided by this Act, liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months or to both.
Marginal note: Insolvency and winding-up
34 No statute relating to the insolvency or winding-up of any corporation applies to the Bank and in no case shall the affairs of the Bank be wound up unless Parliament so provides, but if provision is made for winding up the Bank the notes of the Bank outstanding are the first charge on the assets.
Marginal note: By-laws
I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and to the best of my judgment and ability perform the duties that relate to any office or position in the Bank held by me.
I also solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not
communicate or allow to be communicated, to any person not entitled to it, any confidential information that relates to the business or affairs of the Bank that I may learn in the course of performing those duties;
use any such information for any purpose other than to perform those duties; or
allow any person to inspect or have access to any books and records that belong to or that are in the possession of the Bank and that relate to the business or affairs of the Bank, unless the person is legally entitled to inspect them or to have access to them.