The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs

Stephen S. Poloz
Vice-President and Chief Economist
Export Development Canada

Mr. Poloz joined Export Development Canada (EDC) in September 1999. As EDC’s Chief Economist, he leads several  departments, including Market and Economic Analysis, Country Risk Assessment, Political Risk Assessment, Technical Advisory Services, Environmental Advisory Services and the Corporation’s Information Centre. 

Prior to joining EDC, Mr. Poloz was managing editor of The International Bank Credit Analyst, based in Montreal. Before that, he spent 14 years with the Bank of Canada, occupying a number of senior positions including chief of the Research Department. He has been a visiting scholar at the Economic Planning Agency in Tokyo, as well as at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. 

Mr. Poloz earned a PhD and an MA in economics from the University of Western Ontario, and a BA in economics from Queen’s University. He has published extensively on a wide range of economic issues, and has served on the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Economics and on the executive council of the Canadian Economics Association. He is currently president of the 250-member Ottawa Economics Association. 

EDC provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets. Founded in 1944, EDC is a Crown corporation that operates as a commercial financial institution.