About the OSC
The OSC is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing Ontario’s capital markets, which include the equities, fixed-income and derivatives markets. The OSC is a self-funded Crown corporation accountable to the Ontario Legislature through the Minister of Finance.
The OSC administers and enforces the provincial Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act, and administers certain provisions of the Business Corporations Act. This legislation sets out the OSC’s authority to develop and enforce rules that help safeguard investors, deter misconduct and regulate participants involved in capital markets in Ontario.
Our Mandate
The OSC mandate is set by statute: To provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices and to foster fair and efficient capital markets and confidence in capital markets.Our Priorities
For 2011-2012, the OSC has identified five broad priorities:- To better demonstrate our commitment to investor protection.
- To intensify operational, compliance and enforcement efforts to promote confidence in the markets.
- To modernize our regulatory systems and approaches.
- To pursue a coordinated approach to securities regulation.
- To demonstrate accountability for its performance as a leading securities regulator in Canada.
The history of the OSC dates back to 1928 with the introduction of securities legislation – the Security Frauds Prevention Act – by the Government of Ontario. In 1933, the province’s securities regulator, the Security Frauds Prevention Board, was renamed the Ontario Securities Commission.
