Canadian Securities Regulators seek comments on OTC Central Counterparty Derivatives Clearing framework

CSA

Montréal - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published today for comment CSA Consultation Paper 91-406 Derivatives: OTC Central Counterparty Clearing, which sets out the CSA Derivatives Committee's recommendations for central counterparty clearing of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions through regulated central counterparties (CCPs).

The paper details recommendations on issues such as: the process for determining which OTC derivatives should be subject to mandatory CCP clearing; the regulation and governance of CCPs; clearing member access; and risk management.

"The importance of bringing central clearing to OTC markets has been recognized by the G-20 as one of the reform elements in the ongoing effort to reduce systemic risk in the financial markets," said Bill Rice, Chairman of the CSA and Chairman and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "This paper is part of the CSA's commitment to creating a Canadian solution to the question of central clearing,"

The paper is part of a series of papers by the CSA outlining policies designed to reduce systemic risk and improve the regulatory framework for OTC derivatives in Canada, Market participants are invited to submit their comments until September 21, 2012. All responses received will be published on the Autorité des marchés financiers (www.lautorite.qc.ca) and the Ontario Securities Commission (www.osc.gov.on.ca This link will open in a new window) websites.

Copies of the Consultation Paper are available on the following websites: Alberta Securities Commission This link will open in a new window, Autorité des marchés financiers, British Columbia Securities Commission This link will open in a new window, Manitoba Securities Commission This link will open in a new window, New Brunswick Securities Commission This link will open in a new window, Nova Scotia Securities Commission This link will open in a new window, Ontario Securities Commission This link will open in a new window and Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission This link will open in a new window.

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

Richard Gilhooney

604-899-6577

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

Tanya Wiltshire

902-424-8586

Nunavut Securities Office

Louis Arki

867-975-6587

Ontario Securities Commission

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington

416-593-2361

PEI Securities Office, Office of the Attorney General

Janice Callbeck

902-368-6288

Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission

Dean Murrison

306-787-5879

Yukon Securities Registry

Helena Hrubesova

867-667-5466