Representatives from the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) will hold a free information session for industry participants on the increasing use and importance of XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) on September 24.

The information session will feature expert speakers from the CSA and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who will discuss recent proposals by the SEC for the mandatory use of XBRL, as well as the move to XBRL in Canada.

“As a business reporting language, XBRL will make it easier for investors and analysts to analyze financial information from a large number of different companies,” says James Turner, vice chairman, Ontario Securities Commission. “The CSA is supportive of XBRL and is hosting this event to help the Canadian marketplace gain a greater understanding of this exciting technology.”

Speakers include: James Turner; David Blaszkowsky, director, Office of Interactive Disclosure, SEC; Peter Grant, chief information officer, British Columbia Securities Commission; Gerald Trites and Wasim Thaha, XBRL Canada; and Cameron McInnis, chief accountant (acting), OSC.

The free event will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24.