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Ontario Securites Commision - Investor offices
Investor News
OCTOBER 20, 2020
COVID-19 & Job Loss
 

If you’re one of the many Canadians who lost their jobs due to COVID-19, you may be worried about paying your bills on time and when you can find another job. This is a difficult time, and you'll need to choose your next financial steps carefully. Learn more

 
Questions You're Too Embarrassed to Ask
 

Questions You're Too Embarrassed to Ask

Have you ever had questions about investing that you were too embarrassed to ask? Don’t be. An important part of making informed investment decisions is asking questions. Here are some questions that many beginner investors ask. Learn more

 
Robo-Advisors & 'Traditional' Advisers
 

Robo-Advisors & 'Traditional' Advisers

Online investment advisers, also known as “robo-advisors”, use technology to lower costs and automate processes that reduce the need for direct human contact. You’ll likely be offered model portfolios containing lower-cost investments, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Traditional advisers can provide more personalized services. A human adviser will be your point of contact and is responsible for providing services, managing your portfolio, and answering your questions. You may also be offered more investment choices and strategies. Learn more

 
 

COVID-19 & Your Investing Decisions

Many investors are facing difficult decisions about their investments and financial goals. Listen to Michael Tracey, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Insights in the OSC Investor Office, share his insights on how the pandemic has impacted investors and their decisions on the Moolala podcast with Bruce Sellery. Listen now

 
High Yield Bonds
 

High-Yield Bonds

High-yield bonds are corporate bonds issued by companies that have low credit ratings.

These companies are deemed more likely to have trouble meeting their financial commitments, so their bonds have a higher risk of default. To offset that risk, high-yield bonds offer higher interest rates, though returns are not guaranteed. Learn more

 
The Cranial Cash Clash
 

The Cranial Cash Clash

Self-assessment can be an important first step in better educating yourself about finances. The Cranial Cash Clash is a financial literacy game that helps you test your knowledge on important topics like spending, saving, investing, debt and investment fraud.

Visit GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca for more free articles, tools and calculators to help you with your finances.

 
OSC Dialogue 2020
 

Registration is now open for the Ontario Securities Commission’s (OSC) virtual conference Dialogue 2020: What comes next?

This year’s virtual conference will bring together financial industry leaders, senior regulators and investors to discuss what lies ahead and how they are working together to emerge stronger from the global pandemic. Learn more

Register now | Agenda | List of Speakers

 
Ban on Trailing Commissions for Order-Execution-Only Dealers
 

Ban on Trailing Commissions for Order-Execution-Only Dealers

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which includes the OSC, recently adopted final rules that implement a trailing commission ban to prohibit the payment of trailing commissions by fund organizations to dealers who do not make a suitability determination, such as order-execution-only (OEO) dealers. Learn more

 
 

CONSULTATIONS

 

Self-regulatory organization framework

Comments due: October 23, 2020

The CSA is seeking input from investors, industry and the public on the framework for self-regulatory organizations in Canada. Learn more

 

Proposed partial repeal of OSC Rule 48-501 and proposed changes to Companion Policy 48-501CP

Comments due: November 4, 2020

The OSC is proposing amendments of OSC Rule 48-501 Trading During Distributions, Formal Bids and Share Exchange Transactions and changes to its related Companion Policy (48-501CP). The proposed amendments would remove restrictions on dealers involved in distributions, formal bids and share exchange transactions; and remove certain restrictions on insiders and associated entities of issuers and selling shareholders. Learn more

 

Proposed amendments to National Instrument 94-101 and proposed changes to Companion Policy 94-101

Comments due: December 2, 2020

The CSA published proposed amendments for a second comment period relating to National Instrument 94-101 Mandatory Central Counterparty Clearing of and Companion Policy 94-101 Mandatory Central Counterparty Clearing of Derivatives. Learn more

 

Proposed changes to the offering memorandum prospectus exemption

Comments due: December 16, 2020

The CSA published for comment proposed changes to the offering memorandum prospectus exemption. The changes are reflected in proposed amendments to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), as well as proposed changes to Companion Policy 45-106CP Prospectus Exemptions. Learn more

 

WARNINGS/ALERTS

 

Always know the 10 most recent OSC investor warnings and alerts by bookmarking this Fact Card or embedding it on your website or blog.

 

FXBITMARKET Limited

FXBITMARKET Limited, offering investment services on its website found at www[dot]fxbitmarket[dot]com, is not registered in Ontario to engage in the business of trading in securities. Learn more

 

tradebits3

tradebits3[dot]com, found at www[dot]tradebits3[dot]com, is not registered in Ontario to engage in the business of trading in securities. Learn more

 

COVID-19 Fraud Alerts

Watch our new COVID-19 fraud alert videos. Fraudsters are exploiting the fear surrounding economic conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fake government messages. Be careful of fraudsters posing as government agencies or departments by text or email.

Financial representative impostors. Be on alert for fraudsters posing as your bank or investment firm advisor.

Quick High-Return Schemes. Fraudsters are targeting people experiencing financial hardship from COVID-19 with quick high-return schemes based outside of Canada.

Pump-and-dump scams. This is a type of investment fraud where fraudsters artificially increase the price of a stock that they own by encouraging other investors to buy it. 

Work from home scams. Be on alert for fraudsters offering fake job opportunities.

 

IOSCO Investor Alerts

Stay informed about the latest international investor warnings and alerts by visiting the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Investor Alerts Portal.

 

KEY DATES

 

OSC in the Community

OSC in the Community is an outreach program that takes the OSC's regulatory mandate from Bay Street to Main Street. OSC staff travel to communities across Ontario to talk to people about making informed financial decisions and avoiding investment fraud.

To protect the health and safety of the public and staff, all OSC in the Community events will be delivered online or by phone until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidance from public health authorities.

  • November 2, 2020 - Webinar
  • November 3, 2020 - Webinar
  • November 5, 2020 - Webinar
  • November 10, 2020 - Webinar
  • November 12, 2020 - Webinar

Learn more

 
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Follow these 7 tips to keep your credit card safe.

 
 
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