Targeted Reforms Update – Most Regulators Abandon The "Best Interest Standard" But Propose To Proceed With Refined "Targeted Reforms"

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) issued CSA Staff Notice 33-319 (the Notice) to provide an update on the "Best Interest Standard" and "Targeted Reforms" proposed last year in an important CSA Consultation Paper that we discussed in a previous post.

Most regulators have decided to abandon the Best Interest Standard which would have introduced a "client best interest" standard against which all registrant-client obligations would be interpreted.

The CSA will still proceed with a refined set of Targeted Reforms. Even in the absence of a Best Interest Standard in most jurisdictions, the Targeted Reforms would nonetheless significantly increase the obligations of all advisers, dealers and representatives, including IIROC and MFDA members (Registrants), including in the following areas: