Stephen Poloz


Stephen S. Poloz is a Canadian banker and was the ninth Governor of the Bank of Canada. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Bank for International Settlements.
In July 2017, Poloz raised the Bank of Canada's key interest rate to 0.75%, the first interest rate increase in Canada in seven years. Poloz remains concerned about Canada's high level of household debt and is monitoring how households react to each rate hike.

Background

Poloz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Queen's University and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in economics from the University of Western Ontario. He is also a graduate of Columbia University's senior executive program and is a Certified International Trade Professional. His doctoral thesis was on currency movements.
Poloz is a third generation Ukrainian Canadian from Oshawa, Ontario.

Education

Stephen Poloz received his bachelor's degree in 1978 from the Queen's University at Kingston, Canada. He majored in economics.
He received his master's degree in economics in 1979 from the University of Western Ontario, and then a PhD in economics in 1982 from the same institution.
In 2017, Trent University Durham GTA awarded Poloz an honorary PhD degree.

Career

From 1981 to 1994 Poloz was with the Bank of Canada, before leaving as chief of the research department to become managing editor of BCA Research from 1994 to 1999. Poloz joined Export Development Canada in 1999 and became its president and CEO in 2010. He has been a visiting scholar with the "Economic Planning Agency" in Tokyo and at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC.
Poloz attended the 62nd Bilderberg Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2014, where one of the subjects discussed was the situation in Ukraine.
Poloz holds an honorary Certified International Trade Professional designation from the Forum for International Trade Training. He is a past president of the Ottawa Economics Association.
In 2013, he was appointed as the Governor of the Bank of Canada on a seven year term. The Bank of Canada announced he will not seek a second term after his initial appointment expires in June, 2020.
Following his retirement in 2020, Poloz joined the board of directors of Enbridge. On June 17, 2020 it was announced that Poloz will join the Toronto based law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt as a special advisor to the firm, effective August 1, 2020.

Personal life

Poloz is married to Valerie Poloz and they have two children.