2023-01-01
Canadian securities regulators issued Policy Statement 11-204 to streamline the registration process for firms and individuals operating across multiple Canadian jurisdictions. The policy establishes two primary pathways—passport registration for non-principal jurisdictions and interface registration for Ontario—and designates a principal regulator to conduct the primary review while other regulators automatically recognize the submission, fees, and applicable conditions. By leveraging the National Registration Database for filings and payments, the framework eliminates redundant regulatory reviews and ensures that exemptions and terms granted in one jurisdiction automatically apply to others.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 1 Last Amendment in force since January 1, 2023 POLICY STATEMENT 11-204 RESPECTING PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS PART 1 APPLICATION 1.1. Application This Policy Statement describes procedures for a firm or individual to register in more than one Canadian jurisdiction. PART 2 DEFINITIONS 2.1. Definitions In this Policy Statement, “IIROC” means the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada; “interface registration” means a registration described in section 3.3 of this Policy Statement; “NRD” has the same meaning as in Regulation 31-102; “NRD submission” has the same meaning as in Regulation 31-102; “OSC” means the regulator in Ontario; “passport jurisdiction” means the jurisdiction of a passport regulator; “passport registration” means a registration described in section 3.2 of this Policy Statement; “passport regulator” means a regulator that has adopted Regulation 11-102; “permitted individual” has the same meaning as in Regulation 33-109 respecting Registration Information (chapter V-1.1, r. 12); “Regulation 11-102” means Regulation 11-102 respecting Passport System (chapter V-1.1, r. 1); “Regulation 31-102” means Regulation 31-102 respecting National Registration Database (chapter V-1.1, r. 9);
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 2 “regulator” means a securities regulatory authority or regulator; and “SRO” means self-regulatory organization. 2.2. Further definitions Terms used in this Policy Statement and that are defined in Regulation 14-101 respecting Definitions (chapter V-1.1, r. 3), Regulation 11-102 or Policy Statement to Regulation 11-102 respecting Passport System (Decision 2009-PDG-0113, 2009-09-04) have the same meanings as in those regulations and policy statement. 2.3. Interpretation Unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference in this Policy Statement to a ‘regulator’, ‘principal regulator’, or the OSC is a reference to the SRO to whom the regulator, principal regulator, or OSC has delegated, assigned or authorized the performance of all or part of its registration function or to the relevant office of that SRO for the jurisdiction of the regulator or principal regulator. PART 3 OVERVIEW AND PRINCIPAL REGULATOR 3.1. Overview This Policy Statement deals with a firm’s or individual’s registration in multiple jurisdictions in the following circumstances: (i) The firm or individual is seeking registration or is registered in the firm’s or individual’s principal jurisdiction (including Ontario) and the firm or individual seeks registration in another jurisdiction (excluding Ontario). This is a “passport registration.” (ii) The firm or individual is seeking registration or is registered in the firm’s or individual’s principal jurisdiction, the principal regulator is a passport regulator, and the firm or individual seeks registration in Ontario. This is an “interface registration.” 3.2. Passport registration Under Regulation 11-102, if a firm or individual seeks registration or is registered in the firm’s or individual’s principal jurisdiction (including Ontario) and seeks registration in another jurisdiction (excluding Ontario), the firm or individual makes a submission to register in the other jurisdiction. Only the principal regulator reviews the firm’s or individual’s submission and the firm or individual’s sponsoring firm deals only with the firm’s or individual’s principal regulator. The principal regulator reviews the firm’s or individual’s submission to register in the other jurisdiction only to ensure that it is complete. The other regulator does not conduct a review of the firm or individual.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 3 3.3. Interface registration If a firm or individual seeks registration or is registered in the firm’s or individual’s principal jurisdiction, the principal regulator is a passport regulator, and the firm or individual seeks registration in Ontario, the firm or individual submits an application to register in Ontario. The principal regulator will review the firm’s or individual’s application to register in Ontario and the OSC will decide whether to opt in or opt out of the principal regulator’s determination. The firm or the individual’s sponsoring firm will generally deal only with the firm’s or the individual’s principal regulator. 3.4. Registration in passport jurisdictions and Ontario If a firm or individual whose principal regulator is a passport regulator seeks registration in a non-principal passport jurisdiction and in Ontario, the firm or individual should refer to the processes for
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 4 If a firm or individual makes an application for exemptive relief from a requirement in Parts 3 and 12 of Regulation 31-103 or Part 2 of Regulation 33-109 in connection with an application for registration in the principal jurisdiction, the principal regulator for the application for exemptive relief is identified in the same manner as in section 4.4.1of Regulation 11-102. If a firm or individual makes any other application for exemptive relief from a registration requirement, the principal regulator is identified in the same manner as in sections 4.1 to 4.4 of Regulation 11-102. If a firm or individual is not seeking the relief, or is seeking more than one item of relief and not all of the items of relief, in its principal jurisdiction, the principal regulator is identified in the same manner as in section 4.5 of Regulation 11-102. A firm or individual should refer to section 3.6 of NP 11-203 for further guidance on how to identify the principal regulator for exemptive relief application purposes. (2) Subject to subsection (5) of this section and section 3.7 of this Policy Statement, the principal regulator of a firm is the regulator in the jurisdiction where the firm has its head office, unless the firm’s head office is outside Canada. A firm identifies its head office in item 2.1 Head office address of Form 33-109F6 and this information is reflected on NRD. (3) For greater certainty, a firm is a domestic firm if it is a legal entity and has a head office in Canada. For example, a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign firm is a domestic firm. A Canadian branch office of a foreign firm is not. (4) Subject to subsection (7) of this section and section 3.7 of this Policy Statement, the principal regulator of an individual is the regulator in the jurisdiction where the individual has his or her working office, unless the individual’s working office is outside Canada. The working office of a domestic individual is the office of the sponsoring firm where the individual does most of his or her business. A domestic individual identifies his or her working office in item 9 Location of Employment of Form 33-109F4 and this information is reflected on NRD. (5) Subject to section 3.7 of this Policy Statement, if the head office of a firm is outside Canada, the principal regulator for the foreign firm is the regulator in the jurisdiction of Canada the firm identified as its principal jurisdiction in its most recently filed Form 33-109F5 or Form 33-109F6. These forms require a foreign firm to identify its principal jurisdiction in Canada. If the foreign firm is not registered in a jurisdiction of Canada or has not completed its first financial year since being registered, the principal jurisdiction is the jurisdiction of Canada in which the firm expects most of its clients to be resident at the end of its current financial year. In all other circumstances, it is the jurisdiction in which most of the firm’s clients were resident at the end of its most recently completed financial year. (6) Subject to section 3.7 of this Policy Statement, if the working office of an individual is outside Canada, the principal regulator of the foreign individual is the principal regulator of the individual’s sponsoring firm.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 5 (7) A firm should notify the regulator by providing the information about its head office or principal jurisdiction in Form 33-109F6 in accordance with Regulation 33-109 if
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 6 PART 4 GENERAL GUIDANCE FOR FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS 4.1. Effect of submission (1) If an individual makes an NRD submission for the individual in relation to a passport registration or an interface registration in a non-principal jurisdiction, this has the effect of submitting the current information in the individual’s entire Form 33-109F4 in the jurisdiction. (2) Because firms do not file or submit their Form 33-109F6 on NRD, the form requires instead that the firm make a solemn declaration or affirmation that, among other things,
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 7 4.3. Firm submissions A firm should refer to Appendix B of Policy Statement 33-109 for guidance on how to make a submission under section 5.2(1) to (3) or section 6.2(1) or (2) of this Policy Statement. PART 5 PASSPORT REGISTRATION 5.1. Application (1) This part applies to a firm or individual seeking registration in any category (other than a firm seeking registration as a restricted dealer) in a non-principal passport jurisdiction. To register in a non-principal jurisdiction, a restricted dealer must apply directly to the non-principal passport regulator. This part applies to an individual seeking registration in a non-principal passport jurisdiction to act on behalf of a restricted dealer if the restricted dealer is registered as such in that jurisdiction and its principal jurisdiction. (2) A firm seeking registration as a restricted dealer must complete the entire Form 33-109F6 and submit it, along with all supporting materials, in each jurisdiction where it seeks registration as such. 5.2. Filing of materials For a firm (1) Under Regulation 11-102, a firm that seeks registration in a non-principal passport jurisdiction in a category for which the firm is registered or is concurrently seeking registration in its principal jurisdiction (including Ontario) should complete the entire Form 33-109F6 or the items of Form 33-109F6 specified in item 1.3 of the form for the firm’s particular situation. The firm should submit the F6 or relevant items together with any supporting materials. Making the submission to the principal regulator satisfies the firm’s obligation under Regulation 11-102 to make the submission to the regulator in the non-principal passport jurisdiction. For an individual (2) Under Regulation 11-102, an individual who seeks registration in a non-principal passport jurisdiction in a category for which the individual is registered or is concurrently seeking registration in his or her principal jurisdiction (including Ontario) should submit a completed Form 33-109F4, or in some cases a completed Form 33-109F2, for the individual in accordance with Regulation 33-109. (3) Regulation 33-109 requires a completed Form 33-109F4 or completed Form 33-109F2 to be submitted on NRD. NRD automatically submits the relevant form to the appropriate regulators. In some circumstances, it is not necessary to complete the entire form. For example, it is not necessary to complete the entire form for an
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 8 individual to seek registration in the same category in an additional jurisdiction, to add or remove a category of registration, or to register in a category with an additional or a new sponsoring firm. In those circumstances, the relevant NRD submission indicates which items of the form to complete. (4) Making an NRD submission under subsection (3) satisfies the individual’s obligation under Regulation 11-102 to submit a completed Form 33-109F4. Fees in non-principal jurisdiction (5) Fees required for a firm or individual to register automatically in a non-principal passport jurisdiction under Regulation 11-102 are prescribed in the fee regulation of each jurisdiction. If the principal regulator refuses to register the firm or individual, the regulator in any non-principal passport jurisdiction in respect of which a submission was made will return the fees submitted in relation to the submission. 5.3. Registration (1) NRD will record a firm’s or an individual’s category of registration in the principal jurisdiction, any T&C imposed by the principal regulator, and any exemption from Parts 3 and 12 of Regulation 31-103 or Part 2 of Regulation 33-109 granted by the principal regulator. (2) Under Regulation 11-102, a firm or individual that is registered in a category in the firm’s or individual’s principal jurisdiction is automatically registered in a nonprincipal passport jurisdiction in the same category as in the firm’s or the individual’s principal jurisdiction if the firm or individual submitted the relevant completed Regulation 33-109 form and is a member or approved person of an SRO if that is required for that category of registration. For a representative of a mutual fund dealer or scholarship plan dealer whose working office is outside Québec, the SRO condition means that he or she must be a member of the Chambre de la sécurité financière before he or she can become registered in Québec. This condition does not apply if the individual has an exemption in Québec from the requirement to be a member of the Chambre. For a representative of a mutual fund dealer whose working office is in Québec, the SRO conditions means that he or she must be an approved person of the MFDA before he or she can become registered outside of Québec. This condition does not apply if the individual has an exemption in the relevant jurisdiction from the requirement to be an approved person of the MFDA. If a firm or individual is registered in the same category in the principal jurisdiction and in the non-principal passport jurisdiction, Regulation 11-102 provides that a T&C imposed on the registration in the principal jurisdiction applies as if it were imposed in the non-principal passport jurisdiction. The T&C applies until the earlier of the date that the regulator that imposed it cancels or revokes it, or the T&C expires.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 9 (3) NRD will record for each non-principal passport jurisdiction in respect of which the firm or individual made the relevant submission
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 10 behalf of a restricted dealer if the restricted dealer is registered as such in Ontario and its principal jurisdiction. (2) A firm seeking registration as a restricted dealer in Ontario must complete the entire Form 33-109F6 and submit it, along with all supporting materials, directly to the OSC whether Ontario is the firm’s principal jurisdiction or non-principal jurisdiction. 6.2. Filing materials For a firm (1) If a firm seeks registration in Ontario in a category for which it is concurrently seeking registration in its principal jurisdiction, the firm should complete the entire Form 33-109F6 and submit it to its principal regulator and the OSC. Supporting materials that are required under Form 33-109F6 may be submitted to the OSC by giving them to the principal regulator. (2) If a firm is registered in a category in its principal jurisdiction and subsequently seeks registration in the same category in Ontario, the firm should complete the items of Form 33-109F6 specified in item 1.3 of the form and submit the form to the principal regulator and the OSC. Supporting materials that are required under Form 33-109F6 may be submitted to the OSC by giving them to the principal regulator. (3) If a firm seeks to add a category in its principal jurisdiction and in Ontario, the firm must complete the items of Form 33-109F6 specified in item 1.3 of the form and submit the form to its principal regulator and the OSC. Supporting materials that are required under Form 33-109F6 may be submitted to the OSC by giving them to the principal regulator. For an individual (4) Under Regulation 33-109, an individual who seeks registration is required to submit a completed Form 33-109F4, or in some cases a completed Form 33-109F2, through NRD. NRD automatically submits the relevant form to the appropriate regulators. In some circumstances, it is not necessary to complete the entire form. For example, it is not necessary to complete the entire form for an individual to seek registration in the same category in an additional jurisdiction, to add or remove a category of registration, or to register in a category with an additional or a new sponsoring firm. In those circumstances, the relevant NRD submission indicates which items of the form to complete. (5) Making an NRD submission under subsection (4) satisfies the individual’s obligation to submit a completed Form 33-109F4.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 11 6.3. Decision-making process (1) If a firm or individual seeks registration in the principal jurisdiction and in Ontario, the firm or the individual’s sponsoring firm will generally deal only with the principal regulator. (2) The principal regulator will submit to the OSC (or the Ontario office of IIROC, for an individual seeking registration as a representative of an investment dealer) an interface document containing its proposed determination. The OSC will advise the principal regulator whether it opts in to, or opts out of, the principal regulator’s proposed determination generally within one business day from receiving the interface document. The Ontario office of IIROC will generally do this within one business day from receiving the interface document. (3) The OSC may impose a local T&C on a firm’s or an individual’s registration without opting out. (4) If the OSC opts out, it will give the principal regulator written reasons for its decision and the principal regulator will forward the reasons to the firm or the individual’s sponsoring firm and use its best efforts to resolve the opt-out issues with the firm or the sponsoring firm of the individual and the OSC. (5) If the principal regulator is able to resolve the OSC’s opt-out issues with the firm or the individual’s sponsoring firm before NRD shows the firm or individual as being registered in the principal jurisdiction, the OSC may opt back into the interface registration. In that case, the OSC will notify the principal regulator and the firm or the individual’s sponsoring firm that it has opted back in. If the principal regulator is unable to resolve the OSC’s opt-out issues, the firm or individual’s sponsoring firm should deal with the OSC directly to resolve them. 6.4. Decision (1) NRD will record a firm or individual’s category of registration in the principal jurisdiction, any T&C that applies in the principal jurisdiction, and any exemption from Part 4 of Regulation 31-103 or Part 2 of Regulation 33-109 granted by the principal regulator. If the OSC opts in, NRD will also record that the firm or individual is registered in the same category in Ontario, including the date when the registration takes effect, and that the OSC has adopted the same T&C and granted the same exemption from Divisions 1 and 2 of Part 3 and Part 12 of Regulation 31-103 or Part 2 of Regulation 33-109 as the principal regulator. (2) If the OSC imposes a local T&C on a firm’s or an individual’s registration, NRD will also record any T&C applicable in Ontario only.
Policy Statement 11-204 January 1, 2023 Page 12 6.5. Opportunity to be heard (1) If the principal regulator of a firm or an individual that seeks registration in the principal jurisdiction and, concurrently, in Ontario is not prepared to grant registration or is prepared to grant registration with a T&C, the principal regulator will