The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) has updated its guidance for mutual fund dealers, removing the requirement to separately notify CIRO of changes to trade, business, or style names. Since CIRO has accessed this information directly through the NRD since April 1, 2025, firms can now update name information through the NRD alone.

SEE MORE

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced final rule changes, requiring fund dealers to act as principal distributors only for funds within the same fund family. The changes aim to prevent the practice from expanding. Some provisions take effect October 1, 2026, with others coming into force January 1, 2027.

SEE MORE

Mutual fund dealers, advisors, and fund managers have 18 months to make the necessary changes to comply with the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) enforcement of GST/HST on mutual fund trailing commissions. The CRA has announced that enforcement will begin on January 1, 2028.

SEE MORE

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will significantly delay the planned July 1, 2026 implementation of GST/HST on mutual fund trailing commissions. The CRA expects to publish a formal notice with revised timelines and enforcement details by the end of May 2026. The extension gives dealers and fund companies more time to prepare for the complexity of the tax changes.

SEE MORE

The Ontario Securities Commission’s Registration, Inspections and Examinations Division (RIE) has published its fiscal 2026–2027 examination priorities. The RIE will explore and integrate artificial intelligence technologies to enhance examination processes, aiming to strengthen regulatory oversight while improving efficiency across its examination program.

SEE MORE

On April 7, 2026, Quebec’s securities regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) published its Guideline for the Use of Artificial Intelligence. Effective May 1, 2027, the Guideline forms part of a broader push to regulate AI use in the financial sector at both the provincial and federal levels, with a focus on governance, risk management, transparency, and consumer protection.

SEE MORE

Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) is developing stricter title protection rules for financial planners and advisors, by fall 2026, potentially setting a national model. Critics say Ontario’s current regime allows low-threshold credentials, while some advocate for Quebec’s stricter single-credential system.

SEE MORE

Canada will sharply increase anti-money laundering penalties under new national security legislation, raising maximum FINTRAC fines by up to 40 times. The government will raise penalties for “very serious” AML violations to $20 million from $500,000, while it will increase fines for serious breaches to $4 million and for minor breaches to $40,000.

SEE MORE

Global financial education provider Fitch Learning, the new owner of Canadian Securities Institute (CSI), is modernizing the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) with new technology. The overhaul follows new exam-based licensing rules from Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) that no longer require the CSC for investment dealer registration.

SEE MORE

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has released proposed amendments to its fee rules aimed at reducing costs for most market participants, supporting capital formation, improving fee predictability, and ensuring more proportional fee structures. Stakeholders can submit feedback on the proposals until July 29, 2026.

SEE MORE