Education and Good Governance Fund - 2010 Call for Projects - Financial Education and Research Projects

Organization

Montréal – The Autorité des marchés financiers (the  AMF”) invites research centres, educational institutions, organizations and associations working with senior citizens, cultural communities and youth to submit their project proposals involving financial education and research before September 30, 2010 for support from the Education and Good Governance Fund (EGGF).

The Fund is a valuable educational and knowledge-building tool. By supporting initiatives that vary from university research and community awareness projects to youth education and financial independance, the AMF helps to educate consumers and protect investors, promote good governance, and enhance knowledge in all fields related to the AMF's mission.

Since its creation in 2004, the EGGF has supported 72 projects with over $8.5 million in financing. Outlines of projects and results are provided in the EGGF section of the AMF’s website.

2010 priorities

This year, the EGGF Assessment Committee will review the submissions received based on how well they reflect any of the 11 themes selected by the AMF. However, the Assessment Committee reserves the right to accept any project it deems relevant, even if the project is not related to the themes noted below.

With respect to projects related to consumer education, investor protection and promotion of good governance, the AMF is placing a priority on projects that:

1) Improve access to information and Web-based financial education tools;

2) Help disseminate information across Québec, or develop or distribute financial education tools through:

  • social networks and their applications;
  • Web-based training;
  • primary, secondary and extracurricular school networks;
  • webinars;
  • video or audio clips;

3) Help consumers make informed decisions concerning financial products and services with projects to develop straightforward and accessible training tools;

4) Better meet the financial education needs of target clients with training and awareness projects intended for:

  • young Quebeckers aged 6 to 13 (introduction to concepts about financial matters);
  • young Quebeckers aged 14 to 21 (budgets, savings, excessive debt, credit);
  • 30-45 year olds (sandwich generation);
  • early retirees (primarily retirement planning);
  • seniors (primarily fraud prevention);
  • cultural communities (education and awareness raising activities in non-traditional networks);

5) Meet financial education needs for major life events (first job, leaving for school, life as a couple, birth, separation, sickness, job loss, death of a loved one). The Assessment Committee will examine research projects contributing to the enhancement of knowledge in all fields related to the AMF's mission. Priority will be placed on the following:

6) Web-based distribution of financial products and services, particularly as it concerns problems and issues in connection with consumer protection;

7) Systemic risk linked to the insurance and securities sectors as a result of the financial crisis;

8) Management and trailer fees charged by mutual funds: their impact, role, level and relation with the services provided;

9) Universal insurance: current status and market, target clients, product offerings, guarantees and outlook for the future;

10) Use of credit scoring by damage insurers: importance of this information for insurers and consumers, and the regulation of credit rating agencies;

11) The impact of regulation on arbitrage with respect to different investment products (mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other products).

Submitting projects

Organizations and institutions who would like to apply for financial support for their projects should refer to the EGGF guidelines and submit their project proposals by sending the application form by email no later than September 30, 2010. They are also encouraged to contact Julie Lemieux, analyst with the Education and Good Governance Fund, to determine whether their projects meet the criteria of this call for projects.

The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec's financial sector.

— 30 —

Information:

Media only:
Sylvain Théberge: 514-940-2176

Organizations and institutions interested in submitting a project proposal::
[email protected]

Information Centre:
Québec City: 418-525-0337
Montréal: 514-395-0337
Toll-free: 1-877-525-0337

Additional news