The Bank of Canada says it expects to end its quantitative tightening process in the first half of this year and start purchasing assets again as it moves past the extraordinary measures it took during the pandemic.
In prepared remarks for a speech Thursday, deputy governor Toni Gravelle said when that happens, the central bank will return to “business as usual.”
Gravelle said the bank’s reserves currently sit at $130 billion. They expect to reach their target range to end quantitative tightening of $50 to $70 billion in the third quarter of this year.
Gravelle also laid out the bank’s plans for rebuilding its assets, as part of a stated commitment to transparency.
They’ll start with repurchase agreements, before turning to treasury bills in 2025, and federal bonds toward the end of 2026.
He emphasized the bank will not be buying assets on an active basis to stimulate the economy like it did during the pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2025.
