Contact Us
PUBLIC ACCESS
By Telephone: at 416-593-8314 (local Toronto calling area) or using our Toll-Free number (throughout Canada) at 1-877-785-1555.
If you wish to reach a particular staff member, we also offer a “dial by name” or “dial by number” function. Please follow the prompts once you have connected to the OSC.
TTY: 1-866-827-1295
By E-Mail: at: inquiries@osc.gov.on.ca.
By regular mail: Ontario Securities Commission
20 Queen Street West, Suite 1903
Toronto ON M5H 3S8
In Person: If visiting the OSC at 20 Queen Street West, Suite 1700, please note the building's lobby is being renovated and direct access from the street via the front entrance is closed until July 2008. Visitors must enter the building's lobby via the side entrance located at the south end of the Eaton Centre on Level 3. Elevator access is available from all floors of the Eaton Centre.
By Fax: Our General Inquiries Fax number is 416-593-8122. Please see the list below for fax numbers for specific departments.
OSC Fax Directory click here. in PDF
OSC Organizational Chart click here. in PDF
Holidays Observed by OSC Staff click here.
PUBLIC RECORDS
Copies of public documents filed with the OSC are available during normal business hours (8:30 - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday) by calling 416-593-3735.
TTY: 1-866-827-1295
Requests involving searches for public documents are subject to a Research Fee of $150 per company search - (1 company = 1 search). If a request involves more than 1 company, the Search Fee will be multiplied by the number of companies involved. In addition, there is a photocopy charge of 50 cents per page. Regular GST charges of 6% are applied to the total invoice.
Requests involving searches for Form 4 are subject to a Research Fee of $30 per form. The same photocopy charges of 50 cents per page apply and GST of 6% is applied to the total charge.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
An Inquiries Officer is available to assist you during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Eastern Time) when you call us using the contact number listed above.
You may find the answer to your query by reviewing the "Fast Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)" section of our website.
Our after-hours touch-tone service provides answers to frequently asked questions and provides the opportunity to leave a message. All after-hours messages left are returned the next business day.
OUR VISION
Canadian financial markets that are attractive to domestic and international investors, issuers and intermediaries because they have integrity and are cost-efficient.
OUR MANDATE
The OSC is a self-funded, Crown Corporation, with a mandate to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices and to foster fair and efficient capital markets in Ontario and confidence in their integrity.
OUR APPROACH
1. Proactive, innovative and cost-effective in carrying out our mandate.
2. Fair and rigorous in applying our regulatory powers.
3. Timely, flexible and sensible in applying our regulatory powers to a rapidly changing marketplace.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF SECURITIES REGULATION
There are several fundamental principles in securities regulation generally, which assist the OSC in protecting the public interest by providing future protection to investors against improper, fraudulent or unfair practices in the capital markets, and in requiring high standards of fitness and business conduct to ensure honest and responsible conduct by market participants:
1. Universal registration is required for all persons and firms trading in securities in Ontario. The requirement for registration should not replace proper due diligence on the part of the potential investor as to the personal “fit” of a potential investment advisor with the investor. The investor must also take responsibility for any investment decision. The requirement for universal registration does provide a level playing field from which investors can be assured that the registered representative has completed the necessary educational qualifications, and possesses some degree of experience in acting as a financial advisor.
2. OSC Staff conduct regular compliance reviews on all registrant activities, to ensure the firm is complying with securities law. Such reviews verify that all market participants are keeping such books, records and other documents as are necessary for the proper recording of its business transactions and financial affairs. Where appropriate, enforcement staff are involved in these reviews.
3. Public companies which are "reporting issuers" in Ontario (i.e., either who issue shares or whose shares are traded in our capital markets) are required to produce timely, accurate and efficient disclosure of all material information about their activities and securities.
4. OSC Staff conduct on-going reviews of the disclosures that have been made or that ought to have been made by a reporting issuer or mutual fund in Ontario. Where appropriate, enforcement staff are involved in these reviews.
5. Effective and responsible securities regulation requires time, open and efficient administration and enforcement of securities law. A record of the OSC enforcement activities is found at www.osc.gov.on.ca/Enforcement/en_index.jsp.
6. The OSC, subject to an appropriate system of supervision, uses the enforcement capability and regulatory expertise of Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) in the exercise of its mandate. The Investment Dealers Association of Canada (IDA) at www.ida.ca and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) at www.mfda.ca are SROs recognized as having the authority to regulate their members firms. Market Regulation Services Inc. (RS) at www.rs.ca, is the independent regulation services provider for Canadian equity markets; RS monitors each and every trade in real time every day to protect the investor and ensure market integrity.
TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE
The Toronto Stock Exchange at www.tsx.ca, provides an efficient, liquid market for senior equities. Listed companies on the senior exchange represent a broad range of businesses from across Canada, the United States and other countries. The Issuer Services group offers a wide range of customer-oriented products and services. The TSX Venture Exchange,Canada's venture capital marketplace, provides emerging companies with access to capital, while offering investors a well-regulated market for making venture investments. TSX Venture listed companies are active in mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, technology, financial services and other sectors.
FRAUDULENT AND OTHER IMPROPER SCHEMES
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COMPLAINTS
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COMPLAINTS AGAINST OSC STAFF
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OMBUDSMAN FOR BANKING SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS (OBSI)
The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments at www.obsi.ca, is an organization independent of government and funded by the financial services industry that investigates unresolved complaints from customers about banks and other deposit-taking organizations, investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and mutual fund companies. The OBSI base their assessment of customer complaint on four basic criteria: overall fairness, good business practices, accepted industry standards and practices, and standards established by industry regulatory bodies, professional associations or the individual financial services provider. There is no cost to the customer for this service. All avenues of appeal within the firm must have been exhausted before customers who have not received satisfaction can take their case to the OBSI.
OSC INVESTIGATIONS
As with other regulatory or enforcement agencies, the OSC endeavours to release information to the fullest extent possible, while ensuring the process of investigations and conduct of the proceedings are not prejudiced.
The Commission does not comment publicly as to the existence, status or nature of an investigation being conducted by staff until the matter becomes one of public record. While this practice may been frustrating to some, especially those who have submitted a formal complaint, the main purposes of this practice are to protect the integrity of investigations, to ensure the complaint process is not used to affect the market and to provide fairness towards those who are the subject of investigations, but against whom proceedings may never be taken.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Public Information may be found on the OSC website or in the OSC Bulletin.
OSC BULLETIN
The OSC Bulletin is the weekly record of the OSC’s administrative and enforcement activities, and published on behalf of the OSC by Carswell, a Thomson business. Carswell may be reached at 416-609-3800 or by e-mail at: carswell.customerrelations@thomson.com
OSC BULLETIN PUBLIC ACCESS WEBSITE
Carswell offers free on-line public access to the OSC Bulletin through a special web-site (at http://www.oscbulletin.carswell.com). The OSC Bulletins on this public access site are for the most recent twelve weeks only.
OSC BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTIONS
Carswell publishes a paper copy of the Bulletin and maintains an archive of the OSC Bulletins on an internet subscription service entitled securities.pro. Carswell may be reached by telephone at 416-609-3800 or toll-free (in Canada and the U.S.) at 1-800-387-5164, or by e-mail (at: carswell.customerrelations@thomson.com).
INSIDER TRADING REPORT INFORMATION
Insider trading report summaries for companies that are reporting issuers in Ontario are available in Chapter 7 of the weekly OSC Bulletin. Reports are also available through the System for Electronic Disclosure of Insider Trades (SEDI) at www.sedi.ca.
If you are seeking specific reports for the period prior to the implementation of SEDI, requests may directed to the Inquiries and Contact Centre by e-mail at inquiries@osc.gov.on.ca or by telephone (416) 593-8314. Your request will be passed along to our Records area for fulfilment. There is a minimal fee for this service.
Information on block trades and other trading reports are available from the Toronto Stock Exchange at 416-947-4452 or by e-mail at marketdata@tsx.ca.
If you are an insider, reports must be filed within ten days of the trade using the System for Electronic Disclosure of Insider Trades (SEDI) at www.sedi.ca.
POLICY ISSUES
The OSC is interested in policy issues which have not been otherwise identified and which may be of particular interest to investors. If appropriate, your message will be forwarded to policy staff for their consideration. Although no further response may be forthcoming, the issues you have raised will be given serious consideration by the appropriate staff of the OSC.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE
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