The Department of Finance and the Bank of Canada initiated debt strategy consultations for the coming fiscal year.

A consultation document on issues relating to the design and operation of the government’s domestic debt program, prepared jointly by Finance and the Bank of Canada, was made public today.

This year’s consultations are primarily focused on measures that could be taken to allow the government to pursue its strategic debt-management objectives, in a declining debt environment, while promoting the efficient functioning of the domestic market for government securities. The government is also interested in the views of market participants on the functioning of the Canadian government securities markets over the recent period of increased market volatility.

Comments on the specific questions raised in the consultation are due by December 21.