On July 29, 2011, the Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA") published for comment a proposed rule and rule amendments (collectively, the "Original Proposals") proposing a new tailored regulatory regime for venture issuers. After reviewing the comments received and further consideration, the CSA is proposing various changes to the Original Proposals. Consequently, on September 13, 2012, the CSA republished the proposed rule and rule amendments for a second public comment period.

Consistent with the Original Proposals, the CSA is proposing the adoption of a single new national instrument, National Instrument 51-103 – Ongoing Governance and Disclosure Requirements for Venture Issuers ("NI 51-103″) that, for venture issuers, will mandate most of their substantive continuous disclosure and governance obligations.

NI 51-103 introduces a proposed new tailored regulatory regime for venture issuers that are intended to streamline venture issuer disclosure to reflect the needs and expectations of venture issuer investors. The regime also aims to make the disclosure requirements more suitable and more manageable for venture issuers at this stage of their development. NI 51-103 replaces the disclosure obligations set out for venture issuers in National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations, National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings, National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees, National Instrument 58-101 – Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices and National Policy 58-201 – Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Further details can be found here.

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