Skip to content
  • FR
FR
  • About us
    Building, illuminated glass towers on either side of an old, square, stone building.

    About us

    We're here to help you understand what the Bank of Canada does and how it matters to you.

    About the Bank of Canada

    Find out what the Bank does, who runs the Bank and how it is separate from the political process.

    Connect with us

    We'd love to hear from you! Contact us by email, phone or mail—or join us on social media.

  • Visit

    Visit

    • Plan your visit
    • Accessibility and special needs
    • Code of conduct
    • COVID-19 protocols

    Money in 10 Questions: Kids Edition

    On view until Fall 2024. A play-based exhibition where kids learn the basics of money and personal finance—and have fun doing it.

    Connect with us

    We'd love to hear from you! Contact us by email, phone or mail—or join us on social media.

  • Explore

    Exhibitions

    • Permanent exhibition
    • Special exhibitions
    • Travelling exhibitions
    • Past exhibitions

    Blog

    Collection

    • About the Collection
    • Collection Services
    • Canadian Bank Notes Series
    • Search the Collection
    Photo, a tabletop with several printed paper forms and hand-written documents plus a bank card.  

    A checkup on cheques

    With the continuing rise of e-transfers and electronic payments, people have been predicting the death of the humble cheque for decades. But it hasn’t happened yet.

  • Learn

    Learn

    • Activities and games
    • Education blog
    • External resources
    • Lesson plans
    • School programs
    • Video discussion guides

    All About Money

    Virtual program: Get your students talking about money with this lively and interactive virtual classroom presentation.

    Teaching math using money

    From skip counting to making change, working with money is a great way for students to practice math skills.

  • Home
  • Learn
  • External resources

Bank of Canada: Explainers

Share this page on Facebook
Share this page on Twitter
Share this page on LinkedIn
Share this page by email

Consult these brief articles explaining various topics related to the Bank of Canada's core functions.

Subscribe to Latest explainers
Latest explainers

  • Understanding seigniorage
    At the Bank of Canada, we cover the cost of day-to-day business with “seigniorage,” which means earning money from issuing bank notes. […]
  • Understanding quantitative easing
    QE is a tool that encourages spending and investment—helping us to achieve our inflation target by stabilizing the economy. […]
  • Understanding our policy interest rate
    At the heart of the Bank of Canada’s monetary policy is the target for the overnight rate. See what it is—and what it means for you. […]
  • Understanding the output gap
    The output gap is the difference between what an economy actually produces and what it would produce in an ideal world. […]
  • Understanding productivity
    High productivity helps raise our standard of living and keep our economy competitive. […]
  • Understanding the consumer price index
    The consumer price index (CPI) tracks how much the average Canadian household spends, and how that changes over time. At the Bank of Canada, we use it to target inflation. […]
  • Understanding how monetary policy works
    It takes time for our policy decisions to filter—or be transmitted—through the economy and financial system. […]
  • Understanding inflation targeting
    At the Bank of Canada, we aim to keep inflation close to 2 percent. […]
  • Understanding inflation
    Inflation is a persistent rise in the average level of prices over time. […]
  • Understanding exchange rates
    The foreign exchange market determines how much the Canadian dollar is worth. At the Bank of Canada, we very rarely intervene to support its value. […]

See all explainers

Content type(s): External resources
Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies
Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP

30 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G9, CANADA
613‑782‑8914

  • Things to do

  • Plan your visit
  • Find educational resources
  • Search the Collection
  • Connect with us
  • Things to see

  • Canadian bank notes
  • Exhibitions
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Things to know

  • Accessibility and special needs
  • Code of conduct
  • COVID-19 protocols
  • Privacy
●●
Bank of Canada Museum

Visit the Bank of Canada web site ›

We use cookies to help us keep improving this website.

Accept and continue