Q2 2023 Delivery Roadmap update

Payment systems allow money to travel where it needs to be. A down payment on a home, a student loan, an invoice paid to a local business, money sent to a family member abroad, a first paycheque; payments are an essential part of our economy and way of life.

For over 40 years, Payments Canada has ensured these payments﹘over $29 trillion in Q2 2023﹘are cleared and settled safely, securely and efficiently. My sincerest thanks go out to the teams who work day in and day out to ensure these systems at the foundation of the Canadian economy continue to operate smoothly for the benefit of all Canadians.

In the second quarter of 2023, we hosted a very successful Payments Canada SUMMIT, our first in-person event in over three years. It truly was a homecoming for the payment ecosystem as over 1,900 payment professionals gathered to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our industry. It was invigorating to be reminded of what we can achieve when we work together to make payments easier, smarter and safer.

Throughout the course of The SUMMIT, I had many conversations about the regulation of payments in Canada, including open banking, faster payments and the work that still needs to be done to support the public policy objective to broaden access to Canada’s national payment systems. Payments Canada continues to advocate for modern payment regulation that allows fair and open access to Canada’s national payment systems. Amendments to the Canadian Payments Act are required in 2023 to allow for necessary by-law changes to support broader membership in alignment with the expected launch of the Retail Payments Activities Act (RPAA).

In Q2, we were pleased to welcome two new members to our executive team: Donna Kinoshita, Chief Payments Officer and Jude Pinto, Chief Delivery Officer. Both Donna and Jude bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization. Donna will oversee the management of our relationships with regulators, stakeholders and members, along with the responsibility for the strategic management and enhancement of Payments Canada’s systems and services. Jude will be responsible for leading and overseeing the execution of the Real-Time Rail (RTR). In the coming months, following the targeted review of the RTR program, Jude will share the path forward for the RTR.

We are excited to welcome five new and two returning members to our Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC), and one new member to our Board of Directors. We also welcomed back seven returning Member Advisory Council (MAC) member organizations, including two new representatives. The perspectives, expertise and experience from different corners of the Canadian payment industry are vital as we discuss, debate, and shape what the future of payments looks like. Thank you to our new, returning and departing representatives for your contributions.

This past quarter, our research and policy teams explored a number of topics central to the evolution of payments in Canada including inclusivity in payments, QR codes, new point-of-sale services and gig worker payment preferences. Understanding the payment perspectives and behaviours of consumers and businesses is crucial to informing Payments Canada’s strategy, and ensuring we’re well positioned to safely, soundly and efficiently operate Canada’s payment systems for the next 40 years.

Tracey Black
President and CEO
Payments Canada