2023-06-09
The Canadian Securities Administrators issued this policy to provide guidance on the interpretation and application of Regulation 13-103 regarding the phased implementation of the SEDAR+ electronic filing system. The document outlines that Phase 1 primarily mandates issuers to file specific documents, such as exempt distribution reports and applications for exemptive relief, through SEDAR+, while other market participants continue using existing methods until future phases. It further clarifies operational details including fee payments, the effective time of filing, the validity of electronic copies, and procedures for managing document access and confidentiality.
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 1 In force since June 9, 2023 POLICY STATEMENT TO REGULATION 13-103 RESPECTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DATA ANALYSIS AND RETRIEVAL +(SEDAR+) Introduction The purpose of this Policy Statement is to provide guidance on how regulators, except in Québec, and securities regulatory authorities (“we” or “us”) interpret or apply certain provisions of Regulation 13-103 respecting System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) (chapter V-1.1, r. 2.3) (the “Regulation”). This Policy Statement includes explanations, discussion and examples of the application of various parts of the Regulation. Phased approach to SEDAR+ The National Systems Renewal Program of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA”) proposes to implement the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (“SEDAR+”) in several phases, with the objective of replacing all current CSA national systems. The first phase (“Phase 1”) replaces the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”), the National Cease Trade Order Database and the Disciplined List. Phase 1 relates principally to documents filed by issuers with regulators, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authorities, including:
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 2
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 3 Section 3 – Transmission of documents outside of SEDAR+ Under paragraph 3(i), the Regulation does not apply to a document required or permitted to be filed or delivered under any of the provisions of securities legislation set out in Column A of the Appendix of the Regulation, unless an exception in Column B applies. The same applies to any document that a person is required or permitted to file or deliver pursuant to a decision or order issued in respect of any of the provisions of securities legislation set out in Column A of the Appendix, unless an exception in Column B applies. We expect that all of these documents will be incorporated into SEDAR+ in future phases of SEDAR+. A person will file these documents with, or deliver them to, the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority in the same manner that it currently does, including by email, courier or regular mail, through the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (“SEDI”), or through the National Registration Database. For example, an issuer filing an issuer event report under National Instrument 55-102, System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (SEDI) (chapter V-1.1, r. 30) will transmit this information through SEDI. The Appendix also contains certain exceptions set out in Column B relating to documents filed under the provisions of securities legislation indicated in Column A that will be transmitted through SEDAR+ in Phase 1. For example, Regulation 45-108 respecting Crowdfunding (chapter V-1.1, r. 21.02) contains certain registration requirements for funding portals and registered individuals of funding portals, which will be filed outside of SEDAR+ until a future phase of SEDAR+. The exceptions in Column B that relate to Regulation 45-108 respecting Crowdfunding are the following documents that an issuer will transmit through SEDAR+ as part of Phase 1:
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 4 In order to determine the jurisdiction with which a person has the most significant connection, a filer should refer to the factors outlined in subsection 3.4(7) of Policy Statement 11-202. Subsection 7(3) – Decisions and orders in British Columbia Because of differing legislative requirements, subsection 7(1) of the Regulation does not apply in British Columbia. The British Columbia Securities Commission has issued BC Instrument 13-505 Filings Made under Decisions, which has the same effect as subsection 7(1) of the Regulation. Using format and templates specified in SEDAR+ A person satisfies a requirement in securities legislation to file a document with, or deliver a document to, the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority in a prescribed format by transmitting the information in the manner and using the format and templates, if any, specified in SEDAR+. For example, SEDAR+ requires a filer to transmit Form 45-106F1 Report of Exempt Distribution in the format and using the templates specified in SEDAR+. In doing so, the filer satisfies all requirements of Form 45-106F1 Report of Exempt Distribution that relate to the prescribed format of the report. Effective time of filing or delivery SEDAR+ is generally available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We consider a document to be filed with or delivered to the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority when the transmission of the document through SEDAR+ has been completed. SEDAR+ allows a filer to confirm the date and time that the transmission of a document was completed. Although SEDAR+ is generally available every day to receive documents, Canadian securities legislation or Canadian securities directions that refer to a review of a document by the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority (for example our timelines to provide a filer with comments on our review of a preliminary prospectus) will continue to provide that the review be carried out within a certain number of business days. Consent In certain jurisdictions, the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority must consent to a document being filed with or delivered to it by the transmission of the document through SEDAR+. We take the view that the acceptance of documents transmitted through SEDAR+ in accordance with the Regulation satisfies any such consent requirement of the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority contained in electronic commerce legislation. Requirement to file more than one copy of a document
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 5 If any provision of securities legislation requires a person to file with or deliver to the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority more than one copy of a document, the transmission of the document through SEDAR+ in accordance with the Regulation satisfies such a requirement. Official copy of documents We consider that, for purposes of securities legislation, securities directions or any other related purpose, an official record of any document transmitted through SEDAR+ is the document stored in SEDAR+. Certified copy of documents Securities legislation in certain jurisdictions contains a requirement to produce or make available an original or certified copy of information filed under the securities legislation. We take the view that the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority satisfies such a requirement by providing a printed copy of the information that contains, or is accompanied by, a certificate of the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority confirming that the printed copy is a copy of the information filed in SEDAR+. Use of SEDAR+ by the regulator or securities regulatory authority The regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority will transmit certain documents through SEDAR+. For example, we will generally transmit through SEDAR+ a receipt and other confirmation of acceptance for a document transmitted through SEDAR+, such as a receipt for a prospectus. We will also generally transmit through SEDAR+ comment related to a prospectus or an application for an exemption that has been filed through SEDAR+. Public accessibility of documents in SEDAR+ Securities legislation generally requires that the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority make documents filed with it available for public inspection during normal business hours. We consider that the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority satisfies this requirement by making such documents publicly available in SEDAR+. Under securities legislation, documents required or permitted to be delivered are not required to be publicly available but may be subject to an application made under freedom of information legislation. Filers that transmit information in SEDAR+ are responsible for complying with applicable privacy laws. Changing access to transmitted documents To change the access status of a document from public to private, a person should submit a formal request for confidentiality, generally by way of an application made to the regulator, except in Québec, or the securities regulatory authority, under the relevant
Policy Statement to Regulation 13-103 June 9, 2023 Page 6 provisions of securities legislation. The regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority will generally not change the access status of a document from public to private until the request has been reviewed, and a decision has been made in favour of the person. In the following limited circumstances, we will consider changing the access status of a document from public to private in SEDAR+ without a formal request for confidentiality: