Things to know
- Securities law is primarily a matter of provincial/territorial jurisdiction whereby each province/territory has
- enacted legislation that governs securities transactions, as well as supporting rules, instruments and policies; and
- established a securities commission or similar securities regulatory agency; and
- Canada does not currently have a national securities regulator. While there is an umbrella organization – the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), whose objective is to “improve, coordinate and harmonize” securities regulation in Canada – ultimate jurisdiction for the regulation of securities laws remains with the provinces and territories.
- Criminal prosecution of securities violations is a matter of federal jurisdiction, with the RCMP and local law enforcement agencies responsible for the enforcement of the securities-related provisions of the Criminal Codeof Canada. Provincial and territorial securities regulators do not have authority to investigate criminal matters or to pursue criminal prosecutions relating to securities law violations; rather these regulators are responsible for both the administrative and (to varying extents) quasicriminal enforcement of securities laws in Canada.
- Since 2013/2014, the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and the Government of Canada have been jointly engaged in the establishment and implementation of a single operationally independent cooperative securities regulator – the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory (CCMR). The CCMR will administer as-yet enacted federal capital markets legislation and a common provincial legislative regime. The provinces of Alberta and Québec are currently opposed to this initiative.
- Due in part to the multilateral nature of the Canadian securities landscape, Canada has historically not been seen as a fierce pursuer of white collar criminal convictions. However, Canada is coming under increasing international pressure to strengthen and expand its enforcement efforts.
- There is extensive information sharing between the various provincial securities regulators in Canada and with international regulators – including the SEC – pursuant to various Memoranda of Understanding.
- Over the past several years, a number of non-traditional enforcement tools have been introduced at both the federal and provincial levels to help combat white collar crime, including
- the implementation of a no-contest regime as part of the Credit for Cooperation Program, seeking to enhance self-reporting, self-policing and self-correcting of conduct that runs afoul of securities laws (Ontario);
- the implementation of legislation for the automatic reciprocation of other securities regulatory authorities’ decisions (Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Québec);
- the implementation of whistleblower initiatives to encourage individuals to come forward with tips on possible violations of securities laws in exchange for anti-reprisal protections (Ontario and Québec); and
- a series of amendments have been proposed to Canada’s Criminal Codeincluding the introduction of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) regime.
Canada Company Registration
Company Formations Canada offers fast and easy company registration in Canada for non-Canadian residents and foreign companies wishing to operate and do business in Canada.
Register a new company in Canada as a non-Canadian resident
https://companyformations.ca/canada-corporations-non-canadian-residents/
Register a foreign company in Canada
https://companyformations.ca/extra-provincial-corporations-licence-outside-canada/
Canada Registered agent services for foreign companies and non-Canadian residents.
https://companyformations.ca/canada-registered-agent-service/
Canada Nominee director services for foreign companies and non-Canadian residents.
Shared from: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt llp Publication
