Canada’s securities commissions, the Mutual Fund Dealers Association, and other regulatory organizations have their own online services that allow you to search for registration status and disciplinary records of advisors and firms.
Canadian Securities Administrators
The CSA provides information about individuals and firms registered with securities regulatory authorities in Canada (except in Quebec) available through their online National Registration Search tool.
The CSA's Disciplined Persons List is a comprehensive tool listing disciplined individuals by the Mutual Fund Dealers Association and securities regulators in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Provincial commissions
Disciplinary records for current cases against individuals can only be found on the websites of the provincial commissions.
- British Columbia Securities Commission
- Alberta Securities Commission
- Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (Saskatchewan)
- Manitoba Securities Commission
- Ontario Securities Commission
- Autorité des marché financiers (Quebec)
- Nova Scotia Securities Commission
- Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick)
Warning and caution lists
These databases include companies that either appear to be engaging in activities that may pose a risk to investors or may have contacted investors about accounts or investments that don’t comply with securities laws.
- Ontario Securities Commission
- British Columbia Securities Commission
- Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick)
Mutual Fund Dealers Association
The MFDA is the national self-regulatory organization for the distribution side of the mutual fund industry. In addition to supplying a Directory of Member firms, the MFDA provides two alphabetical lists which show if a mutual fund advisor or firm has been, or is currently, involved in an enforcement action.
Chambre de la sécurité financière
La Chambre is a self-regulatory organization that oversees the training and ethics of financial and insurance professionals in Quebec.
Search in the United States
- The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the self-regulatory organization for the US investment Industry. FINRA’s BrokerCheck is a free tool to help investors research the professional backgrounds of current and former FINRA-registered brokerage firms and brokers.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission has an online Investment Advisor Public Disclosure Program which provides investors with information about both SEC- and state-registered investment advisor firms. The SEC typically regulates investment advisors that have in excess of $25 million in assets under management.