Canadian Securities Regulators propose amendments to Mutual Fund rules

CSA

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment proposed amendments to National Instrument 81-102 Mutual Funds and related instruments , which represents the first phase of the modernization of investment fund product regulation.

The proposed amendments are part of a process to update existing regulation of mutual funds in the wake of product developments in recent years. The amendments include proposals to:

  • codify the exemptive relief from regulatory requirements which was frequently granted to certain mutual funds, such as exchange-traded funds; and
  • create new requirements for money market funds.

“These amendments are intended to simplify processes and reduce regulatory costs incurred by both new and existing mutual funds,” said Jean St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). “This is an important first step in the CSA’s approach to modernize existing mutual fund product regulation.”

The proposed amendments to National Instrument 81-102 Mutual Funds as well as related instruments, including National Instrument 81-106 Investment Fund Continuous Disclosure, and the CSA Notice and Request for Comments are available on various CSA members’ websites. The comment period is open until September 24, 2010.

The second phase of the modernization initiative is expected to focus on the requirements applicable to non-conventional investment funds such as exchange-traded funds, as well as on updating the existing mutual fund requirements.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

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For more information:

CSA member name

Point of contact

Phone number

Autorité des marchés financiers

Sylvain Théberge

514-940-2176

Alberta Securities Commission

Mark Dickey

403-297-4481

British Columbia Securities Commission

Brenda Lea Brown

604-899-6554

Financial Services Regulation Div. Newfoundland and Labrador

Doug Connolly

709-729-2594

Manitoba Securities Commission

Ainsley Cunningham

204-945-4733

New Brunswick Securities Commission

Wendy Connors-Beckett

506-643-7745

Northwest Territories Securities Office

Donn MacDougall

867-920-8984

Nova Scotia Securities Commission

Natalie MacLellan

902-424-8586

Nunavut Securities Office

Louis Arki

867-975-6587

Ontario Securities Commission

Theresa Ebden

416-593-8307

PEI Securities Office, Office of the Attorney General

Janice Callbeck

902-368-6288

Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission

Barbara Shourounis

306-787-5842

Yukon Securities Registry

Fred Pretorius

867-667-5225