For Immediate Release        
March 3, 2016

Canadian Securities Regulators Release IIROC Oversight Review Report

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today released the Oversight Review Report of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) that evaluates whether specific regulatory processes are operating effectively, and outlines findings that are significant and require corrective action.

This coordinated review covered the period from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 and was conducted jointly by eight of the provincial securities regulators that recognize IIROC: the Alberta Securities Commission; the Autorité des marchés financiers; the British Columbia Securities Commission; the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan; the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick; the Manitoba Securities Commission; the Nova Scotia Securities Commission; and the Ontario Securities Commission.  IIROC is also recognized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Office of the Superintendent of Securities and the Prince Edward Island Office of the Superintendent of Securities Office (Recognizing Regulators).

Based on their annual assessment of IIROC functional area or key process risks, the Recognizing Regulators selected high and above-average risk areas as the focus for the review, including Enforcement, Information Technology and Business Conduct Compliance. Consideration was given to the prior oversight review and whether findings identified in that review have been resolved, as well as current issues and market conditions that may affect IIROC.

In summary, the Recognizing Regulators noted two high priority findings in IIROC’s Enforcement department related to managing access to the case management database and maintaining case file standards, which had previously been identified during the 2014 Oversight Review. The Recognizing Regulators also noted other process-related issues in the review that IIROC must address in the Enforcement, Information Technology and Business Conduct Compliance departments.

The Oversight Review Report outlines IIROC’s responses to the findings and the Recognizing Regulators’ evaluation of, and intended follow-up to, those responses.

Other than the findings noted, the Recognizing Regulators did not identify concerns with IIROC meeting the relevant terms and conditions of the recognition orders in the areas covered.
The Recognizing Regulators will continue to monitor IIROC’s progress in resolving these findings as part of their ongoing oversight activities.

The Oversight Review Report is available on the Recognizing Regulators’ websites.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

- 30 -

For more information:

Kristen Rose  
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2336 
Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481
Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713
Sylvain Théberge  
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Andrew Nicholson
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission, New Brunswick
506-658-3021

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Janice Callbeck
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
PEI
902-368-6288

John O’Brien
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-4909 

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities
867-667-5466

Jeff Mason
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6591

Tom Hall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-767-9305

Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160