Canadian Securities Regulators take steps to improve scholarship plan disclosure for investors

CSA Securities

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment amendments to National Instrument 41-101 General Prospectus Requirements and Form 41- 101F2 Information Required in an Investment Fund Prospectus that are aimed at providing investors with more meaningful and effective disclosure about scholarship plans.

This publication is the first phase of the CSA’s approach to modernize the regulation of scholarship plans. The proposal includes Form 41-101F3 Information Required in a Scholarship Plan Prospectus, a new form that is tailored to the unique features of scholarship plans.

Central to the proposal is a new Plan Summary document that highlights the potential benefits, risks and costs of investing in a scholarship plan. It is written in plain language, will generally be no more than three pages and will be delivered with the prospectus.

“We know that investors often have trouble understanding the unique features and complexity of scholarship plans,” said Jean
St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). “The new prospectus form will provide investors with the opportunity to make more informed investment decisions by giving them key information in language they can better understand.”

The need for clearer and simpler prospectus disclosure for scholarship plans was also identified in Review of Registered Education Savings Plan Industry Practices, a 2008 report prepared for the department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).

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 June 22, 2010.

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

— 30 —

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

Theresa Ebden

416 593-8307

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