Modernizing how we collect data from institutions
Making sure we have relevant, timely, and high-quality regulatory data, with the right level of detail is key to our ability to react quickly to changes in the risk environment faced by our regulated entities. Most of the data that OSFI, the Bank of Canada, and the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation collect from federally regulated financial institutions (institutions) and federally regulated pension plans (plans) is in an aggregated format. This aggregated data has served us well in the past. However, it is not easily adaptable to meet our current and evolving needs. As a result, we often call on the regulated entities to provide additional data on an ad hoc basis that is more specific, which is an added burden.
The Data Collection Modernization initiative
The Data Collection Modernization (DCM) initiative aims to improve the type of data we collect and the way we collect it. This is the future state of regulatory data collection.
To arrive at this future state, we will need to work with the industry on:
- Collecting the data we need
- Developing consistent definitions and standards
- Improving and simplifying processes for data submission
- Moving to a modern data collection technology solution
- Supporting entities as they pursue their own initiatives to modernize regulatory data reporting, including initiatives to improve overall data quality
We will work with the industry throughout this initiative to promote awareness, understand implications, and consider industry’s capacity to meet our needs.
Planned benefits of the initiative
The DCM initiative will:
- Improve our ability to make risk intelligent decisions
- Allow us to respond more quickly to evolving risks in the financial system
- Increase the efficiency of the data reporting process
- Decrease data burden over time
- Contribute to public confidence in Canada’s financial system
Progress
This timeline outlines our progress to date:
- June 2023: Disseminated to the institutions and plans the DCM launch letter
- July 2023: Received feedback from institutions and plans via the industry questionnaire
- September 2023: Initiated bilateral conversations with associations
- November 2023: Held the First DCM Industry Webinar with 525 attendees from institutions, plans, associations, and vendors
- June 2024: Updated the institutions and plans on the progress of the DCM initiative
- February 2025: Organized industry forums jointly with the associations to engage senior leaders from Financial Institutions.
- March 2025: Concluded a complex public procurement process that resulted in selecting Regnology (the software vendor).
- June 2025: Launched the Strategic Council forum in the banking sector. Met with 10 senior leaders of key institutions and the industry associations.
- June 2025: Updated institutions and plans on the progress and next phase of the DCM initiative.
Coming up next
Our next scheduled steps will be to:
- July 2025: Launch the Strategic Council forums in the insurance sector (Life Insurance and Property and Casualty Insurance).
- Late fall 2025: Launch of the Technology Forum.
- Timing TBC: Industry webinar to share the Technology Implementation Plan.
If you have questions about this initiative, please email dcm-mcd@osfi-bsif.gc.ca.