In 2005, SEDI, in partnership with the Policy Research Initiative (PRI) and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), co-organized the first-ever, national conference on financial capability "Canadians and their Money".   This conference brought academics, public officials and industry experts from Canada and abroad together to discuss directions for financial capability in Canada.   It also led to a call for a steering committee to be formed in order to shape a national strategy on financial capability in Canada.

SEDI responded to this call and has been working to make the committee a reality.   SEDI has made strides to assemble a balanced, diverse committee of high-level experts and stakeholders from all levels of government, the non-profit sector and the private sector and occupies the ex-officio chair.  

In January, 2007, the committee published an op-editorial article entitled "Improving Canadians' Financial Literacy" and introduced the Canadian public to the concept.   In February, 2007, the first meeting of the National Steering Committee on Financial Capability was held in Toronto.   In March, 2007, the committee was encouraged by the 2007 Budget Plan announcement to allocate $3 million to financial capability building in Canada .  

As the work of the committee unfolds and research priorities are set, the committee will increase its efforts to build awareness around this new and exciting initiative in Canada.