Complaints & Guidance

Securities Complaints

There are several courses of action you can take to address any concerns you have about your adviser or firm. If you wish to register a complaint about your registered adviser or firm, follow these steps to find a solution:

1. Speak to your adviser. Explain the problem or your concern, and determine if the problem can be solved to your satisfaction.
2. Meet with the manager. If your adviser is not able to assist you, request a meeting with the branch manager to explain the issue and find a solution.
3. Contact the compliance department and SRO. If your adviser or branch manager cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you can file a written complaint with the firm’s compliance department and the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) that regulates the firm’s operations and the standards of practice. Ask your firm for details about contacting its compliance department and its SRO.

If you are not able to resolve the issue with your adviser, branch manager, compliance officer or SRO, you can complete and submit a complaint form to the Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) and ask to speak with an investigator. Click here to file a complaint online or click here to download a printed complaint form.

It is important that you include all relevant information about your complaint, including dates, times, and documentation such as account statements, letters, or notes. Receiving complete information will help our investigators review your complaint more efficiently.

Complaints are reviewed by MSC staff to determine whether an investigation should be started, whether the complaint could be more efficiently handled by another organization, or whether the complaint will be closed without further review. To learn more about what happens when you make a complaint to the MSC, download the Enforcement Process Chart (PDF).

In reviewing a complaint, it may be necessary for staff of the MSC to obtain personal information, as defined by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba), C.C.S.M. c. F175. Staff may determine that disclosure is required to complete a review of the complaint, conduct an investigation, or commence any enforcement action. Disclosure of personal information may be made to another securities regulator, self-regulatory organization, law enforcement, or person (including the subjects of the complaint).