Canadian Securities Regulators' 2011 Enforcement Report Highlights Proactive Measures to Protect Investors

CALGARY, Feb. 22, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today released its 2011 Enforcement Report that outlines how Canadian securities regulators are actively working to protect investors and prevent abusive conduct in the marketplace. Key highlights of the report include proactive measures taken by CSA members, such as using protective orders and communicating with investors, to prevent harm.

"CSA members work to deter wrongdoing and to protect investors through both enforcement efforts and investor education," said Bill Rice, CSA Chair and CEO and Chair of the Alberta Securities Commission. "This report focuses on the actions our enforcement teams take to respond to violations ranging from illegal insider trading to market manipulation."

This year's report demonstrates that enforcement action against wrongdoing in Canada's capital markets is a top priority for Canadian securities regulators. CSA members concluded a total of 124 cases in 2011, involving 237 individuals and 128 companies. Of these cases, 24 were concluded in court proceedings, which resulted in jail sentences against eight individuals.

The CSA's 2011 Enforcement Report is available for the first time in HTML format in which readers can navigate to specific sections of the report quickly and easily. The report comes out in advance of Fraud Prevention Month in March, which highlights tools and resources Canadians can use to recognize and avoid investment fraud, and lets them know they can turn to securities regulators for help. Among the new tools is the CSA's new Twitter account, to be used to share information about the CSA and its programs, beginning with key sections of the enforcement report. People interested in investor protection or education news and programs are encouraged to follow the CSA on Twitter (@CSA_News).

Key highlights of the 2011 Enforcement Report:

• 66 of the concluded cases involved illegal distributions, which represented the largest category of concluded cases.
• 124 concluded cases involved a total of 237 individual and 128 companies that resulted in:
• Fines and administrative penalties of more than $52 million
• Nearly $50 million in restitution, compensation and disgorgement
• Jail sentences against eight individuals
• 63 interim orders restricting trading and/or freezing the assets against 109 individuals and 108 companies.
• 126 matters commenced against a total of 231 individuals and 121 companies.
• 47 of the 124 concluded cases were concluded by a contested hearing before a tribunal.
• 31 appealed cases, an increasing number.

The 2011 Enforcement Report is now available at http://er-ral.csa-acvm.ca/ and accessible from the CSA website www.securities-administrators.ca and from the websites of various CSA members.

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

For more information:
Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington Ontario Securities Commission 416-593-2361 Mark Dickey Alberta Securities Commission 403-297-4481 Sylvain Théberge Autorité des marchés financiers 514-940-2176 Richard Gilhooley British Columbia Securities Commission 604-899-6713 Ainsley Cunningham Manitoba Securities Commission 204-945-4733 Wendy Connors-Beckett New Brunswick Securities Commission 506-643-7745 Shirley Lee Nova Scotia Securities Commission 902-424-5441	Jennifer Anderson Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission 306-798-4160 Janice Callbeck PEI Securities Office Office of the Attorney General 902-368-6288 Doug Connolly Financial Services Regulation Div. Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-2594 Helena Hrubesova Yukon Securities Registry 867-667-5466 Louis Arki Nunavut Securities Office 867-975-6587 Donn MacDougall Northwest Territories Securities Office 867-920-8984

 

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2361

Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Wendy Connors-Beckett
New Brunswick Securities Commission
506-643-7745

Shirley Lee
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-5441

Jennifer Anderson
Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission
306-798-4160

Janice Callbeck
PEI Securities Office
Office of the Attorney General
902-368-6288

Doug Connolly
Financial Services Regulation Div.
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-2594

Helena Hrubesova
Yukon Securities Registry
867-667-5466

Louis Arki
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587

Donn MacDougall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-920-8984