Investors


Our Service Standards and Timelines


Public Access

When you call us:

  • We will use a best effort to answer your call by the third ring.
  • We will clearly identify ourselves and the area you have contacted.
  • If you reach voice mail, you may choose to press zero and speak directly with a member of our staff.
  • We will return your voice mail message by the end of the next working day.
When you submit a complaint to us by mail, we will:

  • Acknowledge receipt of your complaint within two working days.
  • Complete our initial review of your complaint promptly; usually within 10 days.
  • Communicate with you when our initial review is complete.
When you email us, we will:

  • Respond to your email promptly; usually within two days.

Offering Documents

When you file an offering document with us, and we are your principal regulator, we will use our best efforts to:

Prospectuses

  • Send you our first comment letter on your long-form or simplified prospectus within 10 working days.
  • Send you our first comment letter on your short-form prospectus within three working days.
  • Complete our review of your investment fund prospectus within 40 working days and 30 working days for all others.
  • Issue you a receipt for your final prospectus by the end of the working day if you file all necessary materials before noon.
If a prospectus is filed for an offering that involves a novel and substantive issue or raises a novel policy concern, the complexity of the issue or concern may delay the review of the prospectus.

Prospectus amendments

  • Send you our comment letter on your prospectus amendment within three working days.
  • Complete our review of your prospectus amendment within six working days.

Rights-offering circulars

  • Issue you a non-objection or comment letter within 10 days of receiving your rights-offering circular.
  • Complete our review of your rights-offering circular within 30 working days.

Exemption Applications

When you file an application with Corporate Finance, Compliance & Registrant Regulation or Investment Funds and we are your principal regulator, we will use our best efforts to complete your exemption application within 40 working days.

If an application is filed that involves a novel and substantive issue or raises a novel policy concern, the complexity of the issue or concern may delay the review of the application.

Registration applications

When you send in an application and you are only seeking registration in Ontario or Ontario is your principal regulator, we will:

  • Notify you of deficiencies in your new business application within 30 working days.
  • Notify you of deficiencies in your advising representative or associate advising representative application within 30 working days.
  • Notify you of deficiencies in your initial application or reactivation application for a dealing representative or a permitted individual within 10 working days.
  • Complete a termination notice within 5 working days if the individual left the former sponsoring firm in good standing.

You can help us meet our service standards by:

  • Giving us complete and accurate information.
  • Responding to our requests in a timely manner.
  • Understanding and complying with our deadlines.
  • Appreciating that novel and substantive issues or matters that raise novel policy concerns require more time.
  • Recognizing we cannot provide legal advice.
  • Understanding you may not always get the result you want.