Securities regulators to create new watchdog

IIROC and MFDA to merge

The umbrella organization for Canada’s securities regulators says it plans to merge the regulatory bodies that oversee investment dealers and mutual fund dealers into one new organization, a move praised by both watchdog groups and industry players.

The Canadian Securities Administrators, which represents provincial and territorial securities commissions, said Tuesday the new self-regulatory organization would combine the functions of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) with the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA).

The roles of both regulatory bodies have increasingly overlapped in recent years, prompting calls to review the regulatory framework.

IIROC president and CEO Andrew J. Kriegler said the new organization is important for the financial future of Canadians.

The new pan-canadian organization will “better protect investors, increase access to advice, and support innovation,” he said in a statement.

MFDA president and CEO Mark Gordon said the new organization’s clear public interest focus will strengthen public confidence while maintaining the advantages of the self-regulatory model.

“The CSA’S decision will benefit all stakeholders by enhancing investor protection and creating significant efficiencies for industry participants,” he said in a statement.

IIROC oversees about 175 firms, including full-service investment dealers including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., while the MFDA supervises about 90 mutual fund dealers, such as CIBC Securities Inc. and National Bank Investments Inc. Some financial firms are forced to be members of both agencies because their employees hold different licences for selling investment products.

Last August, IIROC said a study conducted by Deloitte LLP showed that a consolidation of the two regulators could result in savings of up to nearly $500 million for the financial services industry over a decade.

The CSA said the new organization will harmonize IIROC and MFDA rules where appropriate and streamline complaint processes.

The umbrella group for Canada’s securities regulators also said it will combine two existing investor protection funds — the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the MFDA Investor Protection Corp. — into an integrated fund independent of the new organization.

The new self-regulatory framework is the result of extensive research, consultation and analysis, said Louis Morisset, CSA chair and president and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

The organization is “designed to protect Canadian investors and enhance public confidence, accommodate innovation, ensure fair and efficient market operations and navigate continually evolving industry conditions,” he said in a statement.

The next step is to create an integrated working committee to determine the appropriate corporate structure of the new self-regulatory organization, the CSA said.

The new organization will include “governance enhancements” such as ensuring that the majority of board members and its chair are independent to reinforce its public interest commitment, it said.

It will also be required to create an investor advisory panel and solicit CSA comment and input on its annual priorities, business plan and budget, the CSA said.

“The CSA recognizes the high level of skill, dedication and experience that staff from IIROC, MFDA and the existing investor protection funds have consistently brought to their work,” Morisset said.

“The combined forces of these teams will be critical during the creation of the new self-regulatory organization and investor protection fund, and will be crucial to their future success.”