Self-Regulatory Organizations

Self-Regulatory Organizations and Investor Protection Funds


Self-Regulatory Organizations

The Securities Act (Alberta) gives the ASC authority to recognize a self-regulatory organization (SRO). An SRO is an organization that represents its members and is organized for the purpose of regulating the operations, standards of practice, and business conduct of its members and their representatives. An SRO also promotes the protection of investors and the public interest through the establishment of rules that promote ethics and equality.

The SRO currently recognized by the ASC is the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). On January 1, 2023, CIRO replaced and consolidated the functions of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) to provide enhanced regulation of the investment industry. It had temporarily been known as the New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada.

Investor Protection Funds

The Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) is a compensation fund approved by the ASC. CIPF protects, within defined limits, the cash, securities and other property of eligible customers of investment and mutual fund dealers that are members of CIPF's sponsoring organization, in the event of such member's insolvency.

The current CIPF also replaced and consolidated the former Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the MFDA Investor Protection Corporation, effective January 1, 2023. The CIPF is independent of CIRO.

Historical information

Click on a heading below to see the documents associated with the former SROs.

Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA)
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
Click on a heading below to see the documents associated with the former investor protection funds.