BoC's Poloz: Uncertainty of NAFTA has been persistent issue

Following his speech before the Canadian Club Toronto, Stephen S. Poloz, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, is responding questions from the audience, with key quotes, via Reuters, found below.

We put stock in data showing higher wages, doesn't mean there is no slack left.

Wages remain well below their typical average at this stage of the cycle, despite recent uptick.

The uncertainty of NAFTA has been persistent issue, is holding back investment to some extent.

If the economy is near potential but still in a transition phase, it means potential output should grow a little faster than our assumption, downside risk to inflation forecast.

Quarterly data points are most important, but monthly data are part of full array to assemble "our story".

Won't prejudge mortgage regulations, says BoC monitoring how last year's changes are affecting lending, will watch new ones carefully.

Btcoin use "more like gambling than investing", is a situation that has ingredients of something that could be "a significant disturbance".

Not my style to offer forward guidance, don't want to confirm or reject anyone's bias today.