Friday, December 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Feds uneasy with Facebook cryptocurrency: Document

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Mar, 2021 05:58 PM
  • Feds uneasy with Facebook cryptocurrency: Document

Internal Finance Department documents show officials have deep concerns about the effect of Facebook's planned digital currency on Canada's financial stability.

Officials wrote in the briefing note last summer that they believed the company had yet to address multiple concerns and risks its digital currency posed to the financial system.

The July briefing note, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, also says the government was working on options to ease the risks.

Officials appeared less concerned about rivals like Bitcoin, which the briefing note says has not played a large role in everyday transactions in Canada for various reasons.

Unlike Bitcoin, Facebook's offering would be a "stablecoin" whose value would be less volatile, and could be easily used by hundreds of millions of the social media giant's users upon release.

The ease of use and stability of value are among the reasons governments and central banks like the Bank of Canada have taken a keen interest in the currency.

MORE National ARTICLES

Spy watchdog flags gaps in whistle-blowing regime

Spy watchdog flags gaps in whistle-blowing regime
In a letter to Lametti, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency warns of the "serious risks" to both the country and employees when there are poor protocols — or none at all — for disclosing wrongdoing, harassment and discrimination.

Spy watchdog flags gaps in whistle-blowing regime

Vancouver council supports simple drug possession

Vancouver council supports simple drug possession
Mayor Kennedy Stewart put forward the motion earlier this month saying it is time to develop a "health-focused" approach to substance use and end the stigma against drug users.

Vancouver council supports simple drug possession

B.C. records 738 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths

B.C. records 738 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths
Henry says front-line workers as well as those in long-term care homes will likely have priority for vaccinations.

B.C. records 738 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths

Vacancy taxes put more condos on rent market: CMHC

Vacancy taxes put more condos on rent market: CMHC
The CMHC report was released as Vancouver council voted Wednesday to increase its empty homes tax from 1.25 per cent to three per cent for next year.

Vacancy taxes put more condos on rent market: CMHC

B.C. mother outraged over homework assignment

B.C. mother outraged over homework assignment
MacInnis says she asked her daughter to erase the work she had done, which included the web address for a blog post entitled "Balancing the Biased 'Genocide' Story About Residential Schools.

B.C. mother outraged over homework assignment

Officials detail exemptions to border shutdown

Officials detail exemptions to border shutdown
The Canadian border has been closed since March to all but a specific list of people, albeit one that has grown longer as the pandemic has continued.

Officials detail exemptions to border shutdown