MFDA announces disciplinary proceeding in respect of Roland Lemay

TORONTO, June 6, 2016 /CNW/ - The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada ("MFDA") has commenced disciplinary proceedings in respect of Roland Lemay (the "Respondent"). In its Notice of Hearing dated May 13, 2016, Staff of the MFDA alleges that the Respondent engaged in the following conduct contrary to the By-laws, Rules and/or Policies of the MFDA:

Allegation #1: Between January 2007 and December 30, 2014, the Respondent recommended to at least 142 clients that the clients concentrate all, or a substantial portion, of their investment holdings in precious metals sector funds, without conducting adequate due diligence to assess the suitability of his investment recommendations on a client-by-client basis having regard to the essential Know-Your-Client ("KYC") factors relevant to each individual client, including the client's age, risk tolerance, ability to withstand investment losses, and investment knowledge and experience, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1.

Allegation #2: Between January 2007 and December 30, 2014, the Respondent recorded that at least 142 clients had "high" risk tolerance on account forms in order to ensure that the KYC information for the clients matched his investment recommendations to concentrate all, or a substantial portion, of the clients' investment holdings in precious metals sector funds, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1.

Allegation #3: Between January 2007 and December 30, 2014, the Respondent misrepresented, failed to fully and adequately explain, or omitted to explain the risks and benefits of investing in precious metals sector funds, thereby failing to ensure that his recommendations were suitable for the clients and in keeping with their investment objectives, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1.

Allegation #4: Between January 2007 and December 30, 2014, the Respondent failed to use due diligence to learn and accurately record the essential KYC factors relative to clients DH and FH prior to making investment recommendations and accepting investment orders from clients DH and FH, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1.

Allegation #5: Between January 2007 and December 30, 2014, the Respondent failed to use due diligence to ensure that each order accepted and recommendation made to clients DH and FH was suitable for the clients and in keeping with their investment objectives when he recommended that the clients concentrate all of their investment holdings in a single precious metals sector fund, contrary to MFDA Rules 2.2.1 and 2.1.1.

The first appearance in this proceeding will be held by teleconference before a Hearing Panel of the MFDA's Pacific Regional Council on July 13, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific), or as soon thereafter as the appearance can be held, in order to schedule a date for the commencement of the hearing on the merits and to address any other procedural matters. The first appearance will take place at the MFDA offices, located at 650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1220, Vancouver, British Columbia, and will be open to the public, except as may be required for the protection of confidential matters. The hearing on the merits will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia at a time and venue to be announced.

A copy of the Notice of Hearing is available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Notice of Hearing, the Respondent carried on business in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The MFDA is the self-regulatory organization for Canadian mutual fund dealers, regulating the operations, standards of practice and business conduct of its Members and their approximately 83,000 Approved Persons with a mandate to protect investors and the public interest. For more information about the MFDA's complaint and enforcement processes, as well as links to 'Check an Advisor' and other Investor Tools, visit the For Investors page on the MFDA website.

SOURCE Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada

Charles Toth, Director, Litigation, 416-943-4619, [email protected]; Jeff Mount, Vice-President, Pacific Region, 604-694-8846, [email protected]