The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) released its 2017/2018 Enforcement Report on July 10. The report outlines securities enforcement activities conducted by CSA members in Canada.

The report details the securities regulators’ efforts to work together to respond to a changing regulatory environment.

Detecting and disrupting misconduct

"To effectively detect and disrupt securities misconduct in an age of digital transformation, we have focused on embracing novel enforcement tools, implementing new technology and sharing learnings across the CSA and with regulatory peers and law enforcement partners," said Louis Morisset, Chair of the CSA and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. "This year's CSA Enforcement Report clearly shows that by working together across provincial and international borders, CSA members are continually enhancing efforts, increasing efficiency and addressing securities violations."

In terms of enforcement, the report highlights that 124 respondents were placed under interim cease-trade, asset-freeze orders or both, and 43 years of jail time were ordered by the courts for individuals in both quasi-criminal and Criminal Code cases.

Binary options

The report also highlights how enforcement efforts were enhanced through new relationships with technology and credit card companies, a binary options task force, and continued research into the risks of cryptocurrency and initial coin offering (ICO) investments.

To learn more, consult the report on the CSA’s website.