International Memoranda of Understanding

The OSC has signed a number of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with regulators in other countries. These MOUs provide a framework for the OSC to express its commitment to close co-operation, collaboration and information sharing with other regulators in the interest of fulfilling our respective regulatory mandates. This includes promoting investor protection, fostering the integrity of, and maintaining confidence in, capital markets, and reducing systemic risk.

The OSC has the legal authority to share supervisory information contemplated in MOUs based on the Securities Act (Ontario). The OSC may provide information to, and receive information from, other securities or financial regulatory authorities, in Canada and elsewhere.

A key MOU is the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Multilateral MOU. Endorsed in 2002, it is based on the IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation and the experience gained by securities regulators in using bilateral MOUs. The MOU is effective in encouraging regulators to share information and provide assistance on cross-border enforcement-related matters.

Once an MOU between the OSC and another regulator has been signed, it is published in the OSC Bulletin. You can find a list of MOUs in the International Memoranda of Understanding.