Canadian securities regulators encourage investors to look out for ETF Facts

Vancouver – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today launched an awareness campaign encouraging investors to read the Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Facts they receive from their dealers when they invest in an ETF, an investment fund that trades like a stock but may hold a diversified portfolio of investments.

Effective December 10, 2018, dealers will be required to deliver the ETF Facts to investors who purchase ETF securities. The ETF Facts will provide investors with key information about an ETF in an accessible, easy-to-understand format, including potential benefits, risks and costs of investing in an ETF.

“Reviewing the ETF Facts helps investors have informed conversations with their registered investment advisors about their ETF investments, for example how an ETF would fit within their portfolio or how certain features of an ETF, such as its fees and expenses, compare to other ETFs,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

The campaign includes a new webpage and interactive ETF Facts sample highlighting information investors can expect from the ETF Facts, such as fund performance, management expense ratio (MER), fund holdings and more. There are also brief ETF Facts explainer videos on YouTube.

Investors can also consult the ETF Facts on the website of the company offering the fund, or simply ask their investment advisor for a copy.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

For Investor inquiries, please refer to your respective securities regulator. You can contact them here

For media inquiries, please refer to the list of provincial and territorial representatives below or contact us at media@acvm-csa.ca:

Kristen Rose
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2336

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176            

Brian Kladko
British Columbia Securities Commission
(604) 899-6713

Hilary McMeekin
Alberta Securities Commission
403-592-8186

Jason (Jay) Booth
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-1660

Sara Wilson
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission, New Brunswick
506-643-7045

David Harrison
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Steve Dowling
Government of
Prince Edward Island,
Superintendent of Securities
902-368-4550

Craig Whalen
Office of the Superintendent
of Securities,
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-5661

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent
of Securities
867-667-5466

Jeff Mason
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587

Tom Hall
Office of the Superintendent
of Securities
Northwest Territories
(867) 767-9305

Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160