A Proposal for a Modern SRO
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A Proposal for a Modern SRO SPECIAL REPORT on Securities Industry Self-Regulation The SRO model proposed in this Paper represents a Modern CSA / Securities Industry Regulatory Partnership. February 2020 Table of Contents Part I INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE .........................................................................................1 Part II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................3 Canadian Regulatory Landscape – Before and After NewCo .........................................5 Snapshot of NewCo Benefits for Canada ....................................................................6 Structure of Paper ...................................................................................................7 Part III A MODEL FOR A NEW REGULATOR ..............................................................................8 1. NewCo – A New Comprehensive “SRO” .....................................................................8 2. Overview of NewCo ..................................................................................................9 2.1 Regulatory Status ....................................................................................................9 2.2 Mandate .................................................................................................................9 2.3 Membership ...........................................................................................................9 2.4 Regulation Activities ................................................................................................9 2.5 Scalability of Mandate, Membership and Regulatory Activities ...................................10 3. CSA Authority, Governance, People and Money.........................................................10 3.1 CSA Authority .......................................................................................................10 3.2 Governance ..........................................................................................................11 3.3 People: The Best Professional Management and Staff ...............................................12 3.4 Money: Start-up and Operational Funding ................................................................12 Part IV THE CASE FOR CHANGE ...........................................................................................13 1. Proposition ...........................................................................................................13 2. Establishing the Case for Change ............................................................................13 2.1 Stakeholder Group Views ........................................................................................13 2.2 Responding to Hurdles and Resistance ....................................................................14 2.3 An Empowered CSA and a Renewed SRO ................................................................15 2.4 CSA and CMRA .....................................................................................................15 3. Principles and Practical Considerations ...................................................................16 3.1 The Public Interest ................................................................................................16 3.2 A Bold and Achievable Model .................................................................................17 3.3 Blank Page Approach Critical .................................................................................17 3.4 Efficient and Effective: Burden Reduction with Capital Markets Enhancements ...........18 3.5 Investor Focused ...................................................................................................18 3.6 Harmonization and Consolidation ............................................................................19 3.7 Balancing Interests and Reducing Conflicts .............................................................19 3.8 Flexible and Nimble for a Fast Moving Industry ........................................................20 3.9 Address Regulatory Gaps........................................................................................20 3.10 Legal Considerations .............................................................................................20 4. Consequential Changes and Other Considerations .....................................................21 4.1 Market Regulation and Surveillance by CSA .............................................................21 4.2 Review of Registration Categories ...........................................................................22 4.3 Quebec ................................................................................................................23 4.4 Protection Funds ...................................................................................................23 4.5 Industry Trade Associations ....................................................................................23 i MFDA: Special Report on Securities Industry Self-Regulation Part V THE SRO EXPERIENCE – BENEFITS, CONCERNS AND TRENDS ....................................24 1. Benefits of Self-Regulation .....................................................................................24 1.1 Increases Overall Level of Regulatory Resources .......................................................24 1.2 Allows for More Effective Dedication of Resources ....................................................24 1.3 Ensures Necessary Expertise ..................................................................................25 1.4 Cost Efficiency ......................................................................................................25 1.5 Fosters Robust Culture of Compliance .....................................................................25 1.6 SRO Requirements often Exceed Government Regulation ..........................................26 1.7 Greater Ability to Respond Quickly to Changes in the Industry ...................................26 1.8 Fit-For-Purpose Approach to Compliance .................................................................26 1.9 Common Level of Direct Regulation Across all Industry Members ...............................26 1.10 Potential Greater Scope of Authority .......................................................................27 2. Concerns with Self-Regulation ................................................................................27 2.1 Conflicts of Interest ...............................................................................................27 2.2 Regulatory Capture ................................................................................................28 2.3 Public Confidence, Trust and Expectation ................................................................29 2.4 Additional Costs / Duplication of Regulation .............................................................30 2.5 Less Effective Enforcement Powers .........................................................................30 2.6 Less Transparency and Accountability than the Statutory Regulator ............................30 3. Trends ..................................................................................................................31 3.1 Declining Use of SROs...........................................................................................31 3.2 Divergent Members – Risk of Erosion of “Commonality of Member Interests” ..............31 3.3 Systemic Risk Focus..............................................................................................31 3.4 Comprehensive / Integrated Regulator ......................................................................32 3.5 Need for Statutory Regulators to have Full Market Visibility .......................................32 3.6 Amplifying the Public Director and Statutory Regulator Presence in SRO Governance ..33 3.7 Greater SRO Oversight by Statutory Regulators .........................................................33 Part VI SRO RELIANCE – CANADIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ..............................34 1. Canadian Perspective ............................................................................................34 1.1 Current Landscape: Multi-Jurisdictional ..................................................................34 1.2 SROs are Subordinate Regulators ...........................................................................35 1.3 Evolution of SROs in Canada ..................................................................................35 1.4 The MFDA Experience - A New Type of SRO ............................................................36 1.5 IMF Reviews .........................................................................................................36 1.6 Initiatives for Change: The Challenge of Practical Realities ........................................37 2. International Perspective .......................................................................................38 2.1 Diverse Approaches – No Standard Blueprint for Optimal Structure Design .................38 2.2 Impact of Practical Realities ..................................................................................38 2.3 Be Bold and Commit to Change ..............................................................................38 Part VII BENEFITS OF NEWCO – AN SRO BUILT FOR THE FUTURE .........................................39