Canadian Securities Regulators Take Steps to Improve Scholarship Plan
Disclosure for Investors

TORONTO, March 24 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment amendments to National Instrument 41-101 General Prospectus Requirements and Form 41-101F2 Information Required in an Investment Fund Prospectus that are aimed at providing investors with more meaningful and effective disclosure about scholarship plans.

This publication is the first phase of the CSA's approach to modernize the regulation of scholarship plans. The proposal includes Form 41-101F3 Information Required in a Scholarship Plan Prospectus, a new form that is tailored to the unique features of scholarship plans.

Central to the proposal is a new Plan Summary document that highlights the potential benefits, risks and costs of investing in a scholarship plan. It is written in plain language, will generally be no more than three pages and will be delivered with the prospectus.

"We know that investors often have trouble understanding the unique features and complexity of scholarship plans," said Jean St-Gelais, Chair of the CSA and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité des marchés financiers (Québec). "The new prospectus form will provide investors with the opportunity to make more informed investment decisions by giving them key information in language they can better understand."

The need for clearer and simpler prospectus disclosure for scholarship plans was also identified in Review of Registered Education Savings Plan Industry Practices, a 2008 report prepared for the department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).

Copies of the proposed rule amendments and additional background information are available on the websites of CSA members. The CSA is seeking input from all stakeholders on the proposals. The comment period is open until June 22, 2010.

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

For further information: Theresa Ebden, Ontario Securities Commission, [phone]; Sylvain Théberge, Autorité des marchés financiers, [phone]; Mark Dickey, Alberta Securities Commission, [phone]; Ken Gracey, British Columbia Securities Commission, [phone]; Ainsley Cunningham, Manitoba Securities Commission, [phone]; Wendy Connors-Beckett, New Brunswick Securities Commission, [phone]; Natalie MacLellan, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, [phone]; Barbara Shourounis, Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission, [phone]; Janice Callbeck, PEI Securities Office, Office of the Attorney General, [phone]; Doug Connolly, Financial Services Regulation Div., Newfoundland and Labrador, [phone]; Fred Pretorius, Yukon Securities Registry, [phone]; Louis Arki, Nunavut Securities Office, [phone]; Donn MacDougall, Northwest Territories Securities Office, [phone]