News Releases
Canadian securities regulators seek comment on proposals to enhance the obligations of advisers, dealers and representatives toward their clients
Apr 28, 2016
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for a 120-day comment period CSA Consultation Paper 33-404 Proposals to Enhance the Obligations of Advisers, Dealers and Representatives Toward Their Clients, which proposes regulatory action to improve the client-registrant relationship
“With the publication of this consultation paper, the CSA expect to open a dialogue with all market participants on improving the relationship between clients and their advisers and dealers,” said Louis Morisset, Chair of the CSA and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.
The consultation paper includes proposed targeted reforms to National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, as well as potential guidance in a number of areas that would work together to better align the interests of registrants to the interests of their clients, better define the client-registrant relationship for clients and enhance various specific obligations that registrants owe to their clients.
In addition, the consultation paper includes a proposed regulatory best interest standard, accompanied by guidance, that would form an over-arching standard and governing principle against which all other client obligations would be interpreted. Only certain jurisdictions are consulting on the proposed regulatory best interest standard for reasons set out in Part 8 of the paper.
Both the proposed targeted reforms and the proposed regulatory best interest standard, if introduced, would apply to all advisers, dealers and representatives, including those who are members of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). The CSA intend to work with IIROC and the MFDA to ensure their member rules are materially harmonized with the CSA’s requirements and are implemented on the same schedule.
This consultation paper follows extensive research and outreach by CSA Staff and specific CSA jurisdictions as well as a review of international developments regarding the client-registrant relationship.
The CSA welcomes feedback on the consultation paper, which includes a list of 68 consultation questions and can be found on CSA members’ websites. Comments should be submitted in writing by August 26, 2016
The CSA also plan to hold roundtables with market participants in fall 2016, to discuss issues raised in comment letters.
The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.
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For more information:
Alison Walker
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713
Jason Booth
The Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-1660
Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586
Carl Allwood
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-2596
Jeff Mason
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6591
Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160
Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
sylvain.theberge@lautorite.qc.ca
Andrew Nicholson
Financial and Consumer Services Commission, New Brunswick
506-658-3021
Janice Callbeck
The Office of the Superintendent of Securities, P.E.I.
902-368-6288
Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities
867-667-5466
Tom Hall
Office of the Superintendent of Securities,
Northwest Territories
867-767-9305