Canadian securities regulators provide guidance to issuers on reporting impact of COVID-19

CSA

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published its biennial report on its continuous disclosure review program. Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report also includes guidance for issuers on reporting the impact of
COVID-19.

“The report is intended to help public companies understand and comply with their continuous disclosure obligations under securities law,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “ Market participants and investors expect reporting issuers to provide clear disclosure on how COVID-19 is impacting their business. The report will assist these issuers when preparing their financial statements and MD&A, including information about operating performance, financial position, liquidity and future prospects.”

The report outlines common deficiencies and provides examples of how to improve disclosure on select topics including: forward looking information; non-GAAP financial measures; overly promotional disclosure; insider reporting; and mineral project disclosure.

In fiscal 2020, 55 per cent (2019 - 67 per cent) of review outcomes required issuers to take action to improve and/or amend their disclosure, with some issuers being referred to enforcement, cease-traded or placed on the default list.

The CSA’s continuous disclosure review program assesses the compliance of issuers’ continuous disclosure documents with securities law and aims to help improve the completeness, quality and timeliness of continuous disclosure by reporting issuers.

Further regulatory guidance to assist issuers with their COVID-19 disclosure can be found on the CSA COVID-19 Information Hub This link will open in a new window.

CSA Staff Notice 51-361 Continuous Disclosure Review Program Activities for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019 is available on CSA members’ websites.

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 Investor inquiries, please refer to your respective securities regulator. You can contact them here. This link will open in a new window

For media inquiries, please refer to the list of provincial and territorial representatives below or contact us at
[email protected].

For more information:

CSA member name

Point of contact

Phone number

Autorité des marchés financiers

Sylvain Théberge

514-940-2176

Alberta Securities Commission

Hilary McMeekin

403-592-8186

Financial and Consumer Affairs, Authority of Saskatchewan

Shannon McMillan

306-798-4160

Financial and Consumer Services Commission, New Brunswick

Marissa Sollows

506-643-7853

Manitoba Securities Commission

Jason (Jay) Booth

204-945-1660

Nova Scotia Securities Commission

David Harrison

902-424-8586

Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador

Renée Dyer

709-729-4909

Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Northwest Territories

Tom Hall

867-767-9305

Office of the Yukon, Superintendent of Securities

Rhonda Horte

867-667-5466

Ontario Securities Commission

Kristen Rose

416-593-2336

Superintendent of Securities, Department of Justice and Public Safety, Prince Edward Island

Steve Dowling

902-368-4550

Superintendent of Securities, Nunavut

Jeff Mason

867-975-6591