Canadian Securities Regulators propose changes to insider reporting regime

CSA Securities

Vancouver – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published today proposed materials for comment that aim to modernize, harmonize and streamline how insiders report their securities transactions to the public.

The proposed National Instrument 55-104 Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, the companion policy, and related amendments set out the framework and guidelines for a new insider reporting regime. Proposed changes to the insider reporting regime would, among other things:

  • reduce the number of insiders required to file insider reports to a core group with the greatest access to material undisclosed information and the greatest influence over the reporting issuer
  • move the reporting deadline from 10 days to five days after the trade for most transactions
  • simplify and bring consistency to stock-based compensation reporting requirements
  • give issuers the option to file reports on stock-based compensation for insiders
  • require an issuer to disclose whether any of its insiders failed to file an insider report on time

The new regime would generally consolidate the main insider reporting requirements and exemptions in a single national instrument, except in Ontario where the main insider reporting requirements will remain in the Ontario Securities Act. Despite the difference, the substance of the requirements for insider reporting will be the same across the CSA jurisdictions.

Although the CSA is not proposing any changes to the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (SEDI) as part of this initiative, several of the proposed changes should help issuers and insiders comply with their filing obligations relating to SEDI.

The CSA expects the proposed instrument will make it easier for issuers and insiders to understand their obligations. It should also help to promote timely and effective compliance.

The proposed materials are available on the websites of various CSA members. The comment period is open for 90 days.

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:

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

Ken Gracey

604 899-6577

Financial Services Regulation Division, 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

Nova Scotia Securities Commission

Natalie MacLellan

902 424-8586

Nunavut Securities Registry

Louis Arki

867 975-6587

Ontario Securities Commission

Laurie Gillett

416 595-8913

Prince Edward Island, Department of the Attorney General

Marc Gallant

902 368-4552

Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission

Barbara Shourounis

306 787-5842

Securities Registry, Northwest Territories

Donn MacDougall

867 920-8984

Yukon Securities Registry

Fred Pretorius

867 667-5225