The Ontario Securities Commission launched a webcast today to help explain the efficiencies made a new rule harmonizing and consolidating prospectus and registration exemptions for issuers across Canada.


On Sept. 14, 2005, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) implemented National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions. The rule brings uniformity to the majority of significant exemptions found in Canadian securities legislation. In addition to consolidating the various exemption regimes across Canada, NI 45-106 is more straight-forward, user-friendly, and will lead to lower overall issuer compliance costs.

To help issuers and market participants, the OSC is offering a complimentary webcast explaining the changes to the exemption regime.

The webcast, which available on the OSC website, is divided into segments and allows the viewer to select areas that apply to them.

Additionally, any questions with respect to the new rule can be submitted, via the webcast page, for consideration and response by OSC staff.

NI 45-106 and all related materials can be found in the Rules, Policies & Procedures section of the OSC website, as well as on the Canadian securities regulators’ websites.

A list of any remaining local exemptions to prospectus and registration requirements of securities laws can be found in CSA Staff Notice 45-304 Notice of Local Exemptions Related to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions which is available on the OSC Web site.