Category: Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs)
Jul 31, 2024 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Cyber-security and Data Privacy, Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) recently released a bulletin setting out its priority report, describing CIRO’s focus for the 2025 fiscal year (running from April 2024 – March 2025). For this fiscal year, CIRO is focused on three key areas:...
Jun 27, 2024 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
Earlier this month, the Ontario Securities Commission’s Investor Advisory Panel (the Panel) released its annual report. The Panel is an advisory committee to the OSC, that represents the views of retail investors on policy and rule-making initiatives. Among other...
Mar 28, 2024 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Cyber-security and Data Privacy, Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
On March 13, 2024, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) released its compliance priorities for the year. There is much in the document for CIRO members to note. Dealers need to pay special attention to the emphasis on compliance with the Client...
Mar 28, 2024 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Regulatory Compliance
Since the CFRs in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations came into effect the other year, firms have been making serious efforts to meet their enhanced conduct obligations. This includes taking reasonable...
Mar 28, 2024 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Regulatory Compliance
Registrants are reminded that your basement is not the only thing that may need some spring cleaning – it may be time to dust off the product shelf and review your Know-Your-Product (KYP) documentation to ensure it is up to date. With securities regulators likely...
Dec 21, 2023 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
Staff of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) recently published an update to previously published guidance on the Client Focused Reforms – FAQs on the CFRs dated December 6, 2023. In the update,...
Nov 30, 2023 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has released its annual draft Statement of Priorities for 2024-2025 (SoP). There are no less than 16 key priorities set out in the SoP. The priorities we think may be of most relevance to our readers are described below. Assess...
Oct 31, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Corporate Finance, Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
It appears that the long promised regulatory KYC, KYP and suitability audits have begun. Regulators have started reaching out to conduct focused compliance reviews to ensure compliance with the Client Focused Reform requirements that were enacted in 2021. Considering...
Sep 28, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
On September 13, 2023, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) published Staff Notice 81-734 Summary Report for Investment Fund and Structured Product Issuers (the IFM Report). The IFM Report provides an overview of the key operational and policy initiatives of the...
Sep 28, 2023 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Regulatory Compliance
Since the implementation of the Client Focused Reforms (CFRs), the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and staff of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) (together the Regulators), have been monitoring and assessing registrant conduct relating to...
Sep 28, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Cyber-security and Data Privacy, Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
This month, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) released its ‘Year in Review’ which summarizes the activities of the provincial and territorial regulators over the past year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) (the Report). The Report outlines the CSA’s strategic...
Jul 31, 2023 | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Cyber-security and Data Privacy, Investment Funds, Mortgage and Real Estate Investment Vehicles, Regulatory Compliance
On July 27, 2023, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) released its annual report outlining the work staff conducted in 2022/23 (to date). The report has four parts, outlining the OSC’s (i) education and outreach to registrants; (ii) regulatory oversight activities...
Jul 31, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Corporate Finance, Investment Funds, Regulatory Compliance
On June 21, 2023, the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) released its 2023 Annual Report, detailing its achievements in the final year of its F2021-2023 three-year strategic plan. The ASC highlighted its active participation in the crypto regulation space, its...
May 31, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Regulatory Compliance
This month, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) published its first report (the Report) on the OSC TestLab, a regulatory sandbox designed to promote innovation and modernize regulation in Ontario’s capital markets by providing a space to test novel and innovative...
May 31, 2023 | Client-Focused Reforms (CFRs), Regulatory Compliance
As we approach the end of the second quarter, it is a good time for registered firms to reflect on whether they have completed appropriate training for employees. Under National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations...