FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2020
Update on MSC operations in response to COVID-19
WINNIPEG – The Government of Manitoba has announced an order requiring the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective Wednesday, April 1st at 12:01 am. Under the order, workplaces engaged in capital markets, real estate services, insurance and financial service activities are considered to provide essential services and can remain open. As such, Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) staff continue to operate at the level necessary to deliver crucial services to stakeholders and to protect the Manitoba public.
The MSC is taking all necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of its employees and the public as we respond to challenges due to COVID-19. The majority of MSC staff are working from home at this time.
We are encouraging the use of mail, email and fax to
convey important documents to our office wherever possible. MSC’s Securities
and Real Estate Divisions are accepting deliveries of documents and packages
via our main entrance. Upon arrival at our office, please ring for service or
contact our office directly at 204-945-2548.
The MSC, along with its Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) partners, provided temporary blanket relief from certain regulatory filings on March 23, 2020. We will continue to be flexible during this extraordinary time. Questions with respect to regulatory expectations should be directed to our staff contacts listed here.
Investor protections and regulatory requirements remain fully in place and are critical to Manitoba’s capital markets functioning fairly and efficiently.
We will publish further updates on our operations, as the situation develops.
The mandate of the MSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair and efficient capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. Investors are urged to check the registration of any persons or company offering an investment opportunity and to review the MSC investor materials available at http://www.mbsecurities.ca.