Enforcement Notice - IN THE MATTER OF Christian Cloutier - Discipline decision - Liability and Penalty Français
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Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General NewsAug 16, 2016, 14:40 ET
MONTRÉAL, Aug. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Following a discipline hearing held on June 14, 2016, in Montréal, Québec, a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) found that Christian Cloutier failed to take into consideration the recommended holding period and the risk level associated with the use of leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds before recommending them as a suitable investment to one of his clients.
The Hearing Panel's decision dated July 13, 2016, is available at: http://docs.iiroc.ca/DisplayDocument.aspx?DocumentID=2443C36B4DF14E168B4EB6A1170C6996&Language=en
Specifically, the Hearing Panel found that Mr. Cloutier committed the following violation: |
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(a) |
Between May 1, 2008 and November 30, 2011, Mr. Cloutier failed to exercise due diligence to ensure that his investment recommendations in leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds constituted a suitable investment for one of his clients, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 1300.1 (a), (p) and (q) (Regulation 1300.1 (a), (p) and (q) of the IDA, prior to June 1, 2008). |
The Hearing Panel imposed the following penalties on Mr. Cloutier: |
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(a) |
A fine of $15,000; |
(b) |
In the event that Mr. Cloutier seeks re-registration with IIROC, he will be required to successfully complete the Conduct and Practices Handbook course within six months; and |
(c) |
Upon being re-registered with IIROC, Mr. Cloutier will be subject to strict supervision for six months, followed by close supervision for an additional six months. |
The Hearing Panel also ordered Mr. Cloutier to pay costs in the amount of $5,000.
Documents related to ongoing IIROC enforcement proceedings – including Reasons and Decisions of Hearing Panels – are posted on the IIROC website as they become available. Click here to search and access all IIROC enforcement documents.
IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Mr. Cloutier's conduct in November 2012. The misconduct occurred while Mr. Cloutier was a Registered Representative with National Bank Financial Inc., an IIROC-regulated firm. Mr. Cloutier is no longer a registrant with an IIROC‑regulated firm.
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IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and their trading activity in Canada's debt and equity markets. IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while supporting healthy Canadian capital markets. IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.
IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.
All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC‑regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1 877 442-4322.
SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News
Enforcement Contact: Claudyne Bienvenu, Vice-President, Québec, 514-878-2854, [email protected]; Media Contact: Karen Archer, Manager, Media Relations, 416-865-3046, [email protected]
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