Canadian Securities Regulators Take Steps to Improve Oil and Gas Disclosure

CSA Securities

Calgary – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment proposed amendments to National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, its Forms and Companion Policy, as well as consequential amendments. The proposed amendments are designed to provide increased guidance around the disclosure of resources other than reserves, clarify and streamline existing requirements, and respond to developments in the oil and gas industry.

The primary features of the proposed amendments include:

  • a prohibition against addition across resource classes (e.g. adding reserves with prospective resources);
  • a requirement that low and best estimates be provided when a high estimate is disclosed;
  • a requirement for the annual disclosure of significant factors and uncertainties pertaining to the development of and production from properties with no attributed reserves; and
  • the removal of definitions, requirements and guidance solely related to financial reporting.

Copies of the proposed rule amendments and additional background information are available on the websites of CSA members. The CSA is seeking input from all stakeholders on the proposals. The comment period is open until March 19, 2010.

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

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

Ontario Securities Commission

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington

416 593-2361

PEI Securities Office, Department of the Attorney General

Janice Callbeck

902 368-6288

Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission

Barbara Shourounis

306 787-5842

Securities Office, Northwest Territories

Donn MacDougall

867 920-8984

Securities Office, Nunavut

Louis Arki

867 975-6587

Securities Office, Yukon

Fred Pretorius

867 667-5225