Transition binder 2024: Commissioner Shereen Benzvy Miller
General information
Office locations and hours
Ottawa:
427 Laurier Avenue West, 5th Floor
Ottawa ON K1R 7Y2
Toronto:
121 King st West
Toronto ON M5H 3T9
At the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC or the Agency), a normal workweek is 37.5 hours from Monday to Friday inclusive. A normal workday is 7.5 consecutive hours, exclusive of an unpaid lunch period with a minimum duration of 30 minutes. Flexible hours of work are an arrangement that enables any employee to request to vary their starting time, finishing time and/or unpaid lunch period. Subject to operational requirements, employees can request flexible hours between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Supervisors have the authority to approve work schedules. When the starting time is between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time), the finishing time is between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the unpaid lunch period is between 30 and 60 minutes, requests and approvals can be done by email. Any request that deviates from these norms must be formalized with a Flexible Work Arrangement Application, and once approved, the schedule must be entered into MyGCHR.
Parking information
Parking Office – 613-786-3013
ID card / access pass
- Renewing or obtaining an FCAC ID card.docx
- Access pass: Provided by the Administration office. FCAC.reception-reception.acfc@fcac-acfc.gc.ca
IT support services
IM/IT Service Desk staff offers support from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time on Monday to Friday and can be reached through the following methods:
- ServiceNow portal: https://fcac.service-now.com/sp
- By email: servicedesk@fcac-acfc.gc.ca
- By phone: 343-803-4339
- In person: Laurier office 629 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday to Friday
IT Equipment offered as the baseline:
- iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop
- Large, curved monitor
- 4K monitor mount webcam
- Wireless headset (1 or 2 ears)
- Wireless keyboard and mouse
IT Equipment offered outside of the baseline upon request:
- iPad Pro with stylus pen and keyboard (11 or 12.9 inches)
- iWatch Ultra 2
- Sony LinkBuds S
- Wired headset (1 or 2 ears)
- Ergonomic keyboard and mouse
- Extra large monitor from 38 to 49 inches (delays up to 3 months to order)
- Desk mounted boom mic
- Solar powered battery pack
IT Key Applications offered as the baseline:
- Microsoft M365 E5 Suite (e.g., MS Teams, MS SharePoint, MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word, etc.)
- Microsoft Copilot (Gen AI)
- GCDocs (Electronic document and records management system)
- Antidote (French and English corrector)
- SnagIT (Screen and video capture tool)
- FoxIT PDF Editor
- Entrust (email and file encryption)
- MyKEY (2nd-factor authentication for Government of Canada services)
Overview of the Agency
Mandate
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada was established in 2001. It is a federal government agency that is mandated to protect the rights and interests of consumers of financial products and services in Canada.
FCAC achieves its mandate in 2 main ways:
- by supervising the compliance of federally regulated financial entities with consumer protection
- by strengthening the financial literacy of Canadians
- Agency webpage on how FCAC protects financial consumers
The Agency is also mandated to:
- promote awareness of the rights and responsibilities of Canadians in their dealings with financial institutions
- monitor, evaluate and promote awareness of trends and issues that may affect financial consumers
- develop and publish research, content, tools and programs to strengthen the financial literacy of Canadians
- foster an understanding of financial services and related issues in collaboration with stakeholders, including government, regulatory and community organizations
Agency placemat
The Agency has developed a “placemat” that describes its mandate, roles and some of its current key activities, which can be shared when meeting with stakeholders, especially for initial meetings. The placemat is regularly updated and frequently used for meetings with the Minister’s office.

Text version: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, what we are and what we do
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
Who we are and what we do
Supervision
FCAC supervises the compliance of federally regulated financial entities, primarily banks, with consumer protection measures set out in legislation, public commitments and codes of conduct.
Financial consumer protection framework
To address issues raised by FCAC in its review of bank sales practices, the Parliament of Canada adopted legislation to strengthen FCAC’s mandate and introduce new and enhanced protections for consumers in a Financial Consumer Protection Framework in the Bank Act. The Framework came into force on June 30, 2022.
Key changes include:
- Enhanced complaints handling procedures for banks
- A prohibition from providing fake or misleading information to consumers
- Higher administrative monetary penalties
- Enhanced procedures relating to appropriate products, services and remuneration
- Enhanced corporate governance obligations for banks
- Required whistleblower programs for bank employees
- Enhanced powers to direct banks to comply with consumer provisions
- FCAC’s Commissioner must make public the nature of all bank violations
- Banks must send electronic alerts to help customers avoid overdraft and other fees
New mandate: consumer-driven banking
In 2024, the federal government passed legislation to expand FCAC’s mandate to oversee, administer and enforce consumer driven-banking, which is also known as open banking. FCAC is also mandated to foster an understanding of consumer-driven banking and related issues among consumers.
Raison d’être
- FCAC is an independent federal government agency established in 2001 to protect consumers.
- We fulfill our mandate, set out in the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, by supervising federally regulated financial entities and strengthening the financial literacy of Canadians.
Our vision
- To be a leader and innovator in financial consumer protection
Our mission
- To protect consumer of financial products and services
- To supervise regulated entities
- To educate Canadians and strengthen their financial literacy
Our strategic goal: 2021-2026
- To be the national leader in financial consumer protection by effectively supervising banks and other regulated entities and contributing to policy development
- To strengthen the financial literacy of Canadians for an increasingly digital world using educational tools and resources, research, experimentation, stakeholder collaboration and partnerships that foster informed financial behaviours and decision-making
- To be the authoritative source of Canadian financial consumer information through the development of unbiased and evidence-based financial consumer information
- To enable the future of work by strengthening the Agency’s people management practices and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence
Education and research
FCAC educates Canadians about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with financial institutions, and conducts research on their financial knowledge, abilities and behaviours. The Agency also collaborates with stakeholders to contribute to and develop content, tools and programs to help consumers make informed financial decisions.
National financial literacy strategy
The National Financial Literacy Strategy 2021-2026 emphasizes the need for an evolution of the financial ecosystem to be more accessible, inclusive and effective for Canadians.
Reducing Barriers
- Communicate in Ways People Understand
- Build and Provide for Diverse Needs
- Support Increased Digital Access and Digital Literacy
Catalyzing Action
- Enhance Access to Trustworthy and Affordable Financial Help
- Use Behavioural Design to Simplify Financial Decisions
- Strengthen Consumer Protection Measures
5 Key Consumer Building Blocks
- Skills: Navigating the Financial Marketplace
- Capacity: Build Just-In-Time Financial Knowledge and Confidence
- Behaviour: Manage Expenses
- Behaviour: Manage Debt
- Behaviour: Manage Savings
In 2022, FCAC published a Measurement Plan to guide ecosystem stakeholders in measuring collective progress towards the outcomes of the National Strategy.
Federally regulated financial entities
Entities FCAC supervises
- 80 banks
- 43 life insurance companies
- 55 trust and loan companies
- 7 payment card network operators
- 2 external complaints bodies
- 124 property and casualty insurance companies
External complaint bodies
In October 2023, the government announced the designation of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) to serve as Canada’s single external complaints body for banking. The designation was based on the recommendation of the FCAC, following an open and transparent application process. OBSI is a national, independent and not-for-profit organization that has been assisting Canadian banking consumers in resolving disputes for over 25 years. As the single ECB, OBSI will be responsible for providing a fair and impartial external process for consumers whose complaints have not been resolved to their satisfaction or dealt with in a timely manner by banks. OBSI will assume its responsibilities as Canada’s single external complaints body (ECB) on November 1, 2024, following a transition period of 12 months.
FCAC guideline on existing consumer mortgage loans in exceptional circumstances
Purpose
The Guideline sets out how FCAC expects federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs) to provide tailored support to consumers. The Guideline contributes to protecting consumers who:
- have an existing residential mortgage on their principal residence
- are experiencing severe financial stress as a result of exceptional circumstances
- are at risk of not keeping up with their regular payments
Protecting consumers at risk
FCAC expects FRFIs to provide support to consumers at risk including:
- those whose payments on their variable-rate mortgages fluctuate with interest rates and whose payments have thus increased materially
- those with fixed payments on variable-rate mortgages who have seen a materially larger portion (or all) of their payments allocated towards the increased interest costs or who may be facing negative amortization
- those with fixed-rate mortgages reaching near-term maturity who may be facing a material increase in payments
Key expectations on FRFIs
FCAC does not recommend any specific mortgage relief measures. FCAC expects FRFIs to consider all available mortgage relief measures that may be appropriate for consumers who experience severe financial stress, such as:
- waiving prepayment penalties
- waiving internal fees and costs
- not charging interest on interest
- extending amortization for the shortest period possible
FCAC expects FRFIs to establish and implement effective policies and procedures that respect the principles of fairness, appropriateness, and accessibility for Canadian consumers.
Financial well-being of Canadian homeowners and renters
As the central financial consumer protection agency of Canada, FCAC collects regular data on Canadians’ financial well-being to help practitioners and policymakers make evidence-based decisions aimed at enhancing the financial resilience of Canadians. Data presented here speak to current financial indicators linked to housing. For other key indicators related to Canadians’ financial well-being, please see FCAC’s Dashboard on Canadians’ Financial Well-Being
Indicator | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
% of Canadians struggling or having trouble with financial commitments | 39.1% | 42.7% | 47.1% | 57.2% | 56.6% |
Homeowners with a mortgage | 44.0% | 43.5% | 49.0% | 58.3% | 61.3% |
Homeowners without a mortgage | 19.8% | 26.0% | 28.5% | 38.9% | 34.8% |
Renters | 49.9% | 53.4% | 56.2% | 65.2% | 65.1% |
% of Canadians who spent more than they earned | 17.1% | 19.8% | 21.8% | 28.1% | 28.5% |
Homeowners with a mortgage | 18.2% | 20.2% | 20.3% | 28.5% | 29.2% |
Homeowners without a mortgage | 10.9% | 15.3% | 17.1% | 20.4% | 21.8% |
Renters | 21.2% | 23.2% | 26.0% | 31.4% | 32.2% |
% of Canadians who borrowed for daily expenses | 27.3% | 27.1% | 30.7% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
Homeowners with a mortgage | 30.7% | 26.9% | 31.3% | 35.6% | 37.9% |
Homeowners without a mortgage | 10.2% | 10.1% | 14.5% | 17.6% | 14.9% |
Renters | 61.0% | 59.9% | 60.4% | 53.8% | 53.7% |
Organizational structure

Text version: organizational structure
Commissioner
Reporting to the Commissioner
- Deputy Commissioner, Supervision and Enforcement Branch (Frank Lofranco)
- Supervision Directorate
- Compliance Promotion Division
- Enforcement Division
- Deputy Commissioner, Research, Policy and Education Branch (Supriya Syal)
- Program and Policy Innovation Directorate
- Behavioural Finance Lab
- Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services Branch (Werner Liedtke)
- Information Management / Information Technology Directorate
- Finance, Procurement and Reporting Division
- Security and Administration Division
- Chief Human Resources Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch (Julie Neveu)
- Human Resources Programs and Policies Division
- Human Resources Operations Division
- Assistant Commissioner, Public Affairs Branch (Jason Bouzanis)
- Communications and Marketing Division
- Consumer information and Stakeholder Engagement Division
Corporate planning and reporting
As per the Treasury Board of Canada’s Policy on Results, Government of Canada entities like FCAC are expected to identify core responsibilities and describe at a high level what the organization does, what it is trying to achieve, and how it will assess its progress.
Below are the key docum ents that discuss our plans and results that are publicly available:
- 5-year Strategic Plan: This document outlines our plans and strategic goals over a 5-year period, which form the cornerstones of our annual business plans. It also defines our vision and mission.
- Business Plan: This document provides details about our planned spending, core responsibility and business initiatives for the coming fiscal year. It also includes FCAC’s 5-year evaluation plan.
- Annual Report: We provide a formal annual report to the Department of Finance Canada and table it at the House of Commons each fall. The report describes our operat ions, activities and financial conditions over the prior year in line with the FCAC Act and the Bank Act s. 456(2).
- Departmental Results Framework: The Treasury Board Policy on Results establishes the indicators that determine what FCAC performance information should be provided for parliamentary reporting. More information on our results can also be found in the GC InfoBase.
Accountability and transparency
Access to information
Under the Access to Information Act, Deputy Heads have several key responsibilities:
- Ensuring compliance:
- Deputy Heads must ensure that their institution complies with the provisions of the Access to Information Act. This includes ensuring that requests for information are processed in a timely manner and that exemptions and exclusions are properly applied.
- Delegation of authority:
- Deputy Heads have the authority to delegate their powers, duties, and functions under the Act to other officials within the institution. This delegation is typically to Access to Information and Privacy coordinators and other designated staff.
- Promoting a culture of openness:
- Deputy Heads are responsible for promoting a culture of openness and transparency within their institution. This includes providing training and awareness programs for employees about their obligations under the Access to Information Act.
- Reporting and accountability:
- Deputy Heads must ensure that their institution prepares and submits annual reports on the administration of the Access to Information Act to the designated Minister, who then tables these reports in Parliament.
- Managing resources:
- Deputy Heads are responsible for ensuring that adequate resources (personnel, budget, and training) are allocated to meet the requirements of the Access to Information Act.
- Handling complaints and investigations:
- Deputy Heads must cooperate with investigations conducted by the Information Commissioner of Canada and take corrective action where required. They must also handle complaints from requesters in a transparent and responsive manner.
- Policy development and implementation:
- Deputy Heads play a role in developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the effective administration of the within their institution.
- Record-keeping and information management:
- Deputy Heads must ensure that records and information are properly managed, maintained, and accessible in accordance with the Access to Information Act. This includes ensuring that records are created, classified, stored and disposed of in a manner that facilitates access to information requests.
Proactive disclosure
As a federal government agency, we are subject to proactive disclosure requirements, including the disclosure of contracts, travel and hospitality expenses, materials prepared for parliamentary appearances and transition binders for new Commissioners.
Funding: Assessment methodology
FCAC operates on a cost recovery basis and is largely funded by the regulated entities it supervises. This places the burden of paying for financial sector regulation on the financial industry directly.
The Agency charges regulated entities an annual assessment in accordance with its Financial Assessment Methodology, which is publicly available.
In addition to revenues from these assessments, FCAC receives an annual statutory authority of a maximum of $5 million to support the financial literacy of Canadians.
See the presentation on FCAC Sources of Funding prepared by Corporate Services for more information.
Governance

FCAC’s Commissioner is the head of the Agency. The Commissioner’s powers and authorities include the authority to delegate certain responsibilities and decision-making authority to others (e.g., financial approval authorities). The Commissioner reports annually to Parliament, through the Minister of Finance, on the Agency’s activities and on the compliance of financial institutions with the consumer protection measures in, for example, the Bank Act (consumer provisions).
- Governance structure
The Executive Committee (EXCO) provides the Commissioner executive advice and support for the effective and efficient management of the Agency.
- Executive Committee Terms of reference
- Executive Committee Agenda and minutes
The Directors’ Committee (DCOM) provides the Executive Committee with strategic advice and provides a forum for consultation, coordination, discussion and challenge of all operational program, policy development and internal services matters.
- Directors' Committee Terms of reference
- Directors' Committee Agenda and minutes
The Executive Committee and the Director’s Committee are supported by the following:
- The Workplace Advisory Committee (WAC) — WAC is the governing body with employee representation from all branches. WAC allows employee input on FCAC policies and provides an opportunity for ideas and perspectives to be brought forward to enhance the work environment. WAC reports to DCOM, which provides EXCO with quarterly updates on WAC activities.
- Workplace Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
- The Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHSC) — OHSC addresses health and safety matters pursuant to Part II of the Canada Labour Code that apply in the workplace, as well as the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. OHSC is the principal forum for joint employer-employee consultation on, and the development of solutions to, occupational health and safety concerns in the FCAC workplace. OHSC reports to DCOM.
- Occupational Health and Safety Committee Terms of Reference
- Champions — Mental Health and Wellness Champion, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion, Official Languages Champion, Governance Champion, Public Service Renewal Campion and GCWCC Champion. Champions are executives who, in addition to carrying out their regular responsibilities, act as spokespersons to help achieve Agency objectives. Where appropriate, Champions are responsible for coordinating with WAC, promoting the program within the Agency, developing and maintaining action plans and making recommendations on initiatives and events. Champions provide EXCO with updates on their activities as appropriate.
- 2024-2026 Workplace Champions
- The FCAC Social Committee (FSC) — The purpose of FSC is to organize and promote engaging and inclusive social events and activities to support FCAC employee engagement, social connection and like benefits. FSC also aids in fostering a community spirit within FCAC.
- Executive Steering Committees (ESC) — ESCs are tailored to each project or portfolio of projects. Chaired by branch heads, the ESCs’ mandate is to lead the project(s) based on the FCAC Order Instrument for Project Management. This includes, but is not limited to, the scope, schedule, and cost of a project. They are responsible for ensuring that a project meets its objectives and delivers the projected benefits. The ESC seeks EXCO approval based on the project approval and expenditure authority limits for the various gates/phases of the project, in accordance with the FCAC Project Management Framework. EXCO is provided a quarterly project update to monitor the progress of all projects.
Regulatory landscape
FCAC considers the work of other national and provincial regulatory agencies that have a responsibility for overseeing Canada’s financial system and keeping it safe.
Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee (FISC)
FCAC is a member of the Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee, which shares information and discusses issues relating to the supervision of federally regulated financial institutions and financial sector policy. The other members are the Office of the Superintendent of Financial institutions, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bank of Canada, and the Department of Finance Canada.
Senior Advisory Committee (SAC)
The Senior Advisory Committee is a discussion forum for financial sector policy issues, including financial stability and systemic vulnerabilities. It is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Finance and includes the same members as FISC.
Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Board of Directors
The FCAC Commissioner sits as an “ex officio” member on the Board of Directors of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), along with the colleagues of the Department of Finance, the Bank of Canada, and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Board members provide knowledge of the financial, supervisory and regulatory environment in which the CDIC operates.
Heads of Regulatory Agencies (HoA) Committee
The FCAC Commissioner is regularly invited to participate in this federal-provincial forum on financial sector issues, which is chaired by the Governor of the Bank of Canada. The Head of Regulatory Agencies also includes the Department of Finance Canada, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Autorité des marchés financiers (Quebec), the Ontario Securities Commission, the Alberta Securities Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission.
Provincial and territorial regulators
FCAC engages regularly and exchanges information on financial consumer protection matters with provincial and territorial agencies that have a responsibility for regulating financial institutions in their jurisdictions. These financial institutions include securities dealers, credit unions and caisses populaires, as well as other institutions that are registered or incorporated at the provincial level.
Security (Corporate services)
Roles and responsibilities of Commissioner (PDF)
2022 Agency Security Plan (2024 in early stage of development)
Agency Business Continuity Plan (2024 version being finalised)
Human Resources Management Authorities
Background
The Commissioner’s authorities and responsibilities for human resources management are set out in the FCAC Act and derived from several other statutes.
Other key legislation that FCAC is subject to as a federal agency and employer:
- Access to Information Act
- Canada Labour Code, Part II
- Canadian Human Rights Act
- Canadian Multiculturalism Act
- Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act
- Government Employees Compensation Act
- Pay Equity Act
- Privacy Act
- Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
- Public Service Superannuation Act
- Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations
Notably, the FCAC Act and Financial Administration Act establish FCAC as a separate employer and confer responsibility for HR management, appointment authorities and delegation powers to the Commissioner. As examples, the Commissioner approves our terms and conditions of employment, determines resource requirements and organization of the Agency and fulfills other responsibilities of a Deputy Head.
The FCAC Act provides that the Commissioner has direct authority to appoint the senior leadership of the Agency at the Deputy Commissioner level and above, and also confirms that the Commissioner has delegated authority to appoint staff of the Agency, who are to be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.
In carrying out appointment and appointment-related authorities under the Public Service Employment Act, sub-delegated persons must respect the requirements of the Appointment Delegation and Accountability Instrument (ADAI) and the Agency has associated annual reporting requirements. You will receive a letter from the Public Service Commission explaining the authorities delegated to you under the Appointment Delegation and Accountability Instrument. As this is your first Deputy Head role, the President of the Public Service Commission will organize a meeting with you to review these authorities in more detail.
As a federal agency, we are subject to the Official Languages Act, which includes obligations related to communications with and services to the public, language of work, participation of English and French speaking Canadians in the federal workforce, and advancement of English and French in Canadian society through support of official language minority communities. We are also subject to the Employment Equity Act, which seeks to achieve equality in the workplace and to correct conditions of disadvantage experienced by women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. We have annual reporting requirements under both acts. Our official languages data was submitted in June, and our Employment Equity report was submitted in September. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is mandated under the Employment Equity Act to ensure federally regulated employers comply with their obligations; it is currently conducting its first audit of our compliance as part of its latest wave of audits.
We introduced a new Sub-delegation of Human Resources Authorities Instrument, which took effect April 1, 2023. The instrument enables you to entrust executives, managers and others with appropriate authorities to approve various people management-related decisions and actions. Its authorities and limitations respect those articulated in the FCAC Act, Public Service Employment Act, Appointment Delegation and Accountability Instrument, Financial Administration Act, Official Languages Act, Canada Labour Code and Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, which addresses wrongdoing. The instrument was subsequently amended in November 2023 to add authorities for the newly created Director General and Chief Information Officer positions.
The instrument is comprehensive and details authorities related to 15 areas of management responsibility, delineated at 6 levels:

Text version: Authorities related to areas of management responsibilities
Six levels of authorities:
- Commissioner
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Branch Heads
- Other executives
- Managers
- Other supervisory positions
Areas of management responsabilities:
- HR planning
- Organization design and classification
- Values and ethics
- Performance management
- Awards and recognition
- Learning and development
- Official languages
- Appointment and appointment-related
- Compensation
- Employee relations - Hours of word and flexible work arrangement
- Employee relations - Leave
- Employee relations - Wellness
- Employee relations - Grievances and discipline
- Employee relations - Separation
- Workforce adjustment and career transition
When the new instrument was introduced, the Human Resources Branch provided training to all delegates. The Human Resources Branch provides this training to new delegates on an ongoing basis. Training on Inclusive Hiring Practices for a Diverse Workforce was also added as a pre-requisite of sub-delegation, to ensure compliance with new requirements under the Public Service Employment Act.
Authorities are delegated to the lowest appropriate level, to empower management and increase efficiency in decision-making. Some authorities require consultation or recommendation from subject matter experts or the Chief Human Resources Officer. Senior HR personnel are available to provide advice and guidance on all people management matters.
Current state
The current Sub-delegation of Human Resources Authorities Instrument took effect as of November 6, 2023 and will remain effective until you sign a new instrument.
Next steps
The Human Resources Branch will present a new instrument for you to sign within 30 days of your appointment. The proposed changes include the addition of the Senior Deputy Commissioner role, as well as updates to authorities to approve short-term acting pay and telework agreements, and to respond to grievances. Any additional changes that you may like to see could be incorporated at that time.
Resources to support you
The Human Resources Branch will provide overviews of your delegated human resources authorities and our performance management program to prepare you to exercise your accountabilities. These overviews will be tailored to your needs and familiarity with the subject matter.
We may also offer or recommend additional resources for you based on your needs and interests. For example, the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) offers tailored resources for executives, as well as learning paths and series on current Government of Canada priorities. You are also eligible for membership in the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX), which offers a variety of learning events, confidential advisory services and other tools and resources to support you in your role.
First 60 days – Key HR decisions and actions
Continuity of operations
First 30 days
- You will receive a letter from the Public Service Commission explaining the HR authorities delegated to you under the Appointment Delegation and Accountability Instrument pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act.
- If this is your first deputy head role, the president of the Public Service Commission will organize a meeting with you to review the authorities in more detail.
- You will be asked to sign a new FCAC Sub-delegation of HR Authorities Instrument to sub-delegate your authorities to appropriate levels within the organization.
- Proposed updates have been made to the instrument to reflect the new Senior Deputy Commissioner, Consumer-Driven Banking role.
- You will be supported in launching a staffing process to fill the new Senior Deputy Commissioner, Consumer-Driven Banking role.
First 60 days
- You will complete the mid-point performance assessments of your direct reports with the former Interim Commissioner (Werner Liedtke).
- This is an opportune time to review objectives for the year and progress achieved to date. Objectives can be updated at this point, or any time as required.
- You will establish a performance agreement for Werner Liedtke in his substantive role as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services Branch.
Legislative obligations
First 30 days
- The Chief Human Resources Officer (Julie Neveu) submitted the Agency’s Employment Equity Annual Report 2023 to 2024 to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat by September 3, 2024, in accordance with the Employment Equity Act.
Other
First 60 days
- The Public Service Employee Survey will launch on October 28, 2024.
- We strongly encourage employees to participate in this biannual government-wide survey as it is a key source of measures for all aspects of our People Management Framework.
Commissioner’s adjudicative role
Under the FCAC Act, the Commissioner adjudicates proceedings commenced by the Deputy Commissioner against Federally Regulated Financial Institutions that allege violation(s) of consumer provisions. Decisions are published in both official languages on the FCAC webpageFootnote 1 .
The Commissioner undertakes an impartial and independent examination of the evidence and other information relevant to the proceeding that is put before the Commissioner by FCAC Staff and the Federally Regulated Financial Institution, to decide—for each violation alleged—whether the Federally Regulated Financial Institution has committed the violation on a balance of probabilities and whether to impose the penalty proposed by FCAC staff or a lesser/no penalty.
To uphold fairness in the proceeding, FCAC staff carry out their investigation and support the Deputy Commissioner’s decision to commence proceedings separately and without the Commissioner’s involvement or oversight. Furthermore, throughout the course of the proceeding, the Commissioner and FCAC staff maintain their separation and do not engage in discussions about the proceedings outside of the process described in the Guidelines for Adjudicative Process.
The Commissioner has the authority to direct a bank, authorized foreign bank or person who has failed to comply, or who will fail to comply, with a compliance agreement, a consumer provision or Part XIV of the Bank Act to perform an act or refrain from performing an act. The Commissioner may issue the direction or a temporary direction on their own initiative of further to a request made from the Supervision and Enforcement Branch (SEB).
Overview of branches
Secretariat/Office of the Commissioner
- Organization chart for the Secretariat and Office of the Commissioner
The Secretariat/Office of the Commissioner (Secretariat) plays a coordination role for Agency-wide initiatives and organizes the initiatives led by the Commissioner. The Secretariat has also recently taken the responsibility for the development of the Agency’s Business Plan and the Annual Report.
The Secretariat organizes interactions with the Agency’s counterparts and other governmental entities when the Commissioner participates or when they are of a cross-Agency scope. This includes the FCAC’s yearly attendance at the board meetings for the 6 domestic systemically important banks, visits from international representatives, and the visit of the Commissioner and Senior Executives to international and domestic stakeholders, including provincial regulators.
The Secretariat also administers the meeting of the FCAC’s Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, whose members represent the private, non-profit and academic sectors. The Consumer Protection Advisory Committee members provide advice and share insights in support of the FCAC’s consumer protection mandate on priorities and objectives, emerging trends, issues and research and other matters relevant to financial consumers.
Internally, the Secretariat is responsible for the management of the Executive Committee and the Director’s Committee meetings. To fulfill its responsibilities, the Secretariat meets regularly with the Commissioner and the Directors’ Committee Co-Chairs to finalize the agendas, ensures that the meeting runs smoothly and drafts the minutes.
In addition to this, the Secretariat also plays an important role in maintaining the Commissioner’s independence as the Commissioner performs their adjudicative functions, by relying on the Secretariat to administer the proceedings.

Marilyn Leblanc
Director, Secretariat and Office of the Commissioner
As the Director of the Secretariat and Office of the Commissioner, Marilyn acts as the primary liaison between the Commissioner’s office and the executive team. She also provides strategic advice to the Commissioner on a wide range of policy and operational issues.
Marilyn joined the FCAC in February 2016, transitioning from the Canadian Competition Bureau where she held various strategic policy and legal positions. From 2011 to 2013, she served as counsel at McCarthy Tétrault, advising Canadian and international companies on all aspects of competition law.
A member of the Law Society of Quebec, Marilyn holds a degree in civil and international law from Laval University. She has also completed a general management certificate at Queen’s University, and a Certificate in Canadian Financial Services Regulation, Analysis and Decision-Making from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Over the past decade, Marilyn has served on various boards of directors and was honoured with the Leaders of Tomorrow: Lawyer of the Year Award by the Young Bar Association of Montreal.
Supervision and Enforcement Branch

Frank Lofranco
Deputy Commissioner, Supervision and Enforcement Branch
Frank Lofranco was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Supervision and Enforcement at the FCAC in 2020.
Frank joined the federal public service in 1995 and has management experience in public policy, program delivery, regulatory compliance, and business transformation He has served in senior executive roles with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, FedDev Ontario, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
Frank holds a master’s degree in public administration.
- Overview: Supervision and Enforcement Branch
Research, Policy and Education Branch

Dr. Supriya Syal
Deputy Commissioner, Research, Policy and Education Branch
Dr. Supriya Syal is a leading expert in research and evidence-based policy innovation in Canada.
She is the Deputy Commissioner of Research, Policy, and Education at the FCAC, where she recently led the renewal of the National Financial Literacy Strategy and is now guiding its implementation to help Canadians achieve positive financial outcomes.
She is the former Chief Science Advisor to the Treasury Board Secretariat Talent Cloud, and the former Chief Behavioural Scientist of the Privy Council Office Innovation Hub. Prior to joining the public sector, Dr. Syal was VP Research and Innovation at BEworks Inc. She is also the founder and former President of Dulcimer Labs, a purpose-driven company that creates social impact through evidence-based decision making.
She has won multiple awards, published in top academic and popular journals and coauthored a number of policy white papers. She is a regular invited speaker at research, tech and innovative government conferences, and has also appeared on crowdcast, radio and television, including National Public Radio (US) and on TVO’s flagship current affairs show in Canada, The Agenda.
Dr. Syal holds a PhD in psychology from Cornell University, as well as a master’s degree in
neuroscience and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
- RPE Branch
- RPE Org Chart
- Roles and Responsibilities
Corporate Services Branch

Werner Liedtke
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services Branch
In March 2019, Werner Liedtke joined the Agency as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services.
Before joining FCAC, he had a long career in the military. He began as a member of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. Upon reaching the rank of Corporal, he was accepted as an Officer Cadet at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. In 1988, he graduated with a Bachelor of Administration from Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean.
His first posting was in Toronto, Ontario and he served extensively with the Logistics Finance Community. Highlights include being appointed the 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Comptroller, Staff Officer to the Director General Financial Services and various finance positions in Ottawa. He also served at Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands as the J8 Budget Officer responsible for NATO ISAF financial operations in Afghanistan. He was deployed to Kabul in January 2004 as the ISAF HQ Deputy CJ8.
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 2006, he served as the Information Management Group Comptroller and as Director of Budget 3, responsible for budget operations within the Department of National Defence. In 2009, he assumed command of the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Europe) in Geilenkirchen, Germany.
He was promoted to Colonel in 2010 and served as the Royal Canadian Air Force Comptroller/Director Air Comptrollership and Business Management. In 2015, he was promoted to Brigadier-General and worked as the Director General Financial Management. He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in October 2017 and worked as the Chief Financial Management/Deputy Chief Financial Officer for National Defence until March 2019.
He is a Certified Management Accountant and completed master’s degrees in Business Administration at the University of Ottawa and in Defence Studies at Royal Military College. In addition, he graduated from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in 2006.
- Corporate Services
- IT Strategy
- Data Strategy
- Artificial Intelligence Strategy
Human Resources Branch

Julie Neveu
Chief Human Resources Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch
Julie joined FCAC in November 2018. She moved to the Agency from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) where she held the position of Chief Human Resources Officer.
She is a seasoned public servant with more than 30 years of experience in human resources management, having worked in a variety of public and private sector organizations including Natural Resources Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Canada School of Public Service, Human Resources Development Canada, The Mutual Group/MetLife Insurance Company and the Ottawa General Hospital.
She is an active senior executive member of the Human Resources Council and was awarded the 2017 Public Service Michelle C. Comeau Human Resources Leadership Award in the Head of Human Resources category.
Julie holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa with Honours in Human Resources Management.
- HR Branch Overview
Public Affairs Branch

Jason Bouzanis
Assistant Commissioner, Public Affairs Branch
Born and raised in Ottawa, Jason is a proud University of Ottawa alumni who has worked for the federal government for over 20 years. Jason is currently the Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs at FCAC. At FCAC, Jason is responsible for marketing and communications, stakeholder relations and consumer services and information.
Among his accomplishments at FCAC, Jason has led the campaigns for Financial Literacy Month since 2020. Jason has also overseen the communications and promotion of the National Financial Literacy Strategy and the Financial Consumer Protection Framework. Prior to joining FCAC, Jason was the National Director of Communications at Parks Canada where he helped plan and deliver the most successful year in the Agency’s history with free admission to Parks Canada places for Canada 150.
Previously, Jason held executive positions at Employment and Social Development Canada where he managed communications for a number of high-profile government initiatives.
- Public Affairs
Legal Services Branch

Ekaterina Ohandjanian
head of FCAC’s Legal Services branch
Ekaterina Ohandjanian is the head of FCAC’s Legal Services branch since 2015. Her principal responsibility is to advise the Commissioner on matters such as the proper exercise of the adjudicative role, and to support the Agency’s strategic direction on the delivery of its financial consumer protection mandate.
Ekaterina’s career in the Public Service is quite varied. She has gained experience at the Competition Bureau, working on complex merger files and Competition Tribunal proceedings; Transport Canada, delivering on the 2008 merger of Vancouver’s Lower Mainland port authorities and on overhauling the legislation for permitting obstructions in navigable waters in 2014; Natural Resources Canada, designing and setting up the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act reporting framework in 2015 to meet the Prime Minister’s commitment to his G7 counterparts; and the Canadian Coast Guard, advising on matters of corporate governance and accountability, machinery of government and Crown law. From 2008 to 2012, Ekaterina also joined the Legal Operations of the Privy Counsel Office and gained experience advising the Prime Minister and the Clerk on highly complex legal and policy matters relating to government priorities, senior personnel and the machinery of government.
She is the recipient of several awards, including one for creating Shared Services Canada (PCO, 2012) and a Public Service Excellence Award for Policy (Governor General, 2015).
Ekaterina is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from McGill University.
- Legal Services
Stakeholder engagement
Ecosystem infographic
Stakeholder engagement is a shared responsibility across FCAC; however, Public Affairs plays an important role in coordinating, tracking and reporting on stakeholder interactions.
FCAC's Stakeholder Ecosystem infographic provides an overview of the various organizations that FCAC engages with to advance its Strategic Goals and Business Plan initiatives.
Financial literacy networks
Public Affairs leads the financial literacy networks. Chaired by the Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs, FCAC hosts 2 annual meetings and maintains relationships throughout the year with hundreds of network member organizations from across the country.
The Agency liaises regularly with network members, and shares and promotes resources and best practices from FCAC and members to advance financial literacy in Canada.
For information on FCAC’s committees and networks, please refer to FCAC's partners and collaborators.
Consumer Protection Advisory Committee
The Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC) provides guidance and advice to the Commissioner in carrying out the Agency’s financial consumer protection mandate.
Members provide insights that may inform FCAC’s supervision work, research initiatives and development of consumer education material. Members also share their perspectives on marketplace trends, the delivery of financial services, consumer needs and the impact of the evolving nature of the sector on Canadians. Information gathered from Consumer Protection Advisory Committee meetings will inform FCAC’s policy analysis.
CPAC members represent the private, non-profit and academic sectors. Members are selected to serve for a 1–5-year term (including renewals) following a periodic application process. All have significant experience in promoting financial consumer protection or conducting consumer protection research. Members extend FCAC’s reach to a wide range of audiences, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, newcomers, youth and low-income Canadians.
- CPAC Terms of Reference
- CPAC membership
- CPAC Minutes
- Annual Report 2020-2022
- Annual Report 2022-2023
- Annual Report 2023-2024
Bank board meetings
Every year, as part of FCAC’s oversight of federally regulated financial institutions, the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, Supervision and Enforcement and the Deputy Commissioner, Research, Policy and Education meet with the board committees of the 6 domestic systemically important banks. Bank board committees are responsible for overseeing the procedures related to consumer provisions, as required by the Bank Act.
In advance of meetings with board committees, the Agency has preparatory meetings with the chairs of the committees. Meetings may also take place with the bank President and CEO, at their request.
- 2024 BNC Meeting
- 2024 CIBC Meeting
- 2024 BNS Meeting
- 2024 BMO Meeting
- 2024 RBC Meeting
- 2024 TD Meeting
Canadian Bankers Association
The Canadian Bankers Association is a membership representing more than 60 domestic and foreign banks in Canada. It works with provincial and federal governments, business associations and consumer groups to share the perspectives of its members.
FCAC has regularly scheduled quarterly meetings with the President and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association and also presents yearly to its Board of Directors as part of the presentations to the 6 domestic systemically important banks.
Key contacts – Biographies
- Bank of Montreal Board of Directors and CEO: Corporate Governance | Board of Directors (bmo.com)
- Batstone, Tashia – CEO, FP Canada: Tashia Batstone, MBA, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D (fpcanada.ca)
- BC Financial Services Authority Executives: Our Leadership | BCFSA
- Brazeau, Julien – Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Financial Sector Policy Branch: Julien Brazeau, Finance Canada
- Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Board of Directors: Board of directors – CDIC
- Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Management: Management team – CDIC
- Canadian Securities Administrators provincial representatives: Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca)
- Cheop, David – Vice-Chair of the Canadian Securities Administrators and Chair of the Manitoba Securities Commission: Manitoba – Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca)
- De Laurentiis, Joanne – Chair, Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario: Joanne De Laurentiis | Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (fsrao.ca)
- Dodig, Victor – CEO, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: Victor G. Dodig | Executive Team | CIBC
- FAIR Canada Executives: About Us – FAIR Canada
- Ferreira, Laurent – CEO, National Bank of Canada: bio-ferreira-en.pdf (bnc.ca)
- Forbes, Chris – Deputy Minister: Chris Forbes, Deputy Minister Department of Finance - Canada.ca
- Freeland, Honourable Chrystia – Minister: The Honourable Chrystia Freeland | Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)
- Hawkins, Susan – CEO, Payments Canada: Susan Hawkins | Payments
- Johnson, Grahame – Assistant Deputy Minister Financial Sector Policy Branch: Grahame Johnson - Finance Canada
- Leong, Brenda – CEO, British Columbia Securities Commission: British Columbia - Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca)
- MacGibbon, Alan – Board Chair, Toronto-Dominion Bank: Alan N. MacGibbon - TD
- Macklem, Tiff – Governor, Bank of Canada: Tiff Macklem - Bank of Canada
- Magidson, Stan – Chair of the Canadian Securities Administrators and CEO of Alberta Securities Commission: Alberta – Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca)
- Masrani, Bharat, CEO, Toronto-Dominion Bank: Bharat Masrani - TD
- Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Management: Executive biographies - Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (osfi-bsif.gc.ca)
- Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments Board members: Board of Directors – OBSI
- Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments Management: Staff – OBSI
- Ouellet, Yves – CEO, Autorité des marchés financiers: Yves Ouellet - President and CEO | AMF (lautorite.qc.ca)
- Paré, Robert – Board Chair, National Bank of Canada: bio-pare-en.pdf (nbc.ca)
- Parquet, Sarah – CEO, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC): Director and Chief Executive Officer of FINTRAC (canada.ca)
- Power, Stephen – Interim CEO, Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario: Stephen Power | Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (fsrao.ca)
- Prosper Canada Management: Senior Management Team - Prosper Canada
- Regent, Aaron W. – Board Chair, Scotiabank: Aaron W. Regent (scotiabank.com)
- Rogers, Carolyn – Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada: Carolyn Rogers - Bank of Canada
- Royal Bank of Canada Board of Directors and CEO: Corporate Governance – RBC
- Stevenson, Katharine B. – Board Chair, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: Katharine B. Stevenson | CIBC
- Thomson, Scott – CEO, Scotiabank: Scott Thomson (scotiabank.com)
- Vingoe, D. Grant – CEO, Ontario Securities Commission: Ontario - Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca)
- Volk, Coleen – CEO, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Coleen Volk | CMHC (cmhc-schl.gc.ca)
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