News Release

Vancouver - The British Columbia Securities Commission is holding a half-day dialogue Thursday with investment industry professionals and market participants to discuss ways to implement better securities regulation for investors and industry in B.C.

“We have been working for several years to design and administer a more efficient and effective system of regulation that protects investors, the integrity of our markets, and fosters innovation,” said BCSC Chair Doug Hyndman. “We are now putting these ideas into action with the help of industry and market participants.”

The BCSC strongly advocates an outcomes-focused, principle-based securities regulatory system that provides better investor protection while reducing the regulatory burden on industry - encouraging market participants to think about what is best for investors and the market.

To show what it takes to implement this, the conference will conduct an in-depth discussion among international regulatory and industry leaders - those who have applied principles-based regulation in their home jurisdictions - and Canadian regulators and industry. The session, hosted by BCSC Chair Doug Hyndman and moderated by CBC news anchor, Ian Hanomansing, will feature: 

• Stephen Bland, Director, Small Firms, and Retail Intermediary Sector Leader, Financial Services Authority, UK
• Walter Lukken, Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, USA
• Penny Tham, Group Compliance, Head of North Asia, ABN AMRO, Hong Kong
• Paul Bourque, Senior Vice-President Member Regulation, Investment Dealers Association
• Bill Rice, Chair, Alberta Securities Commission
• David Wilson, Chair, Ontario Securities Commission

Investment dealers, portfolio managers, mutual fund dealers, compliance officers, securities lawyers, company directors and executives, as well as academics, and federal and provincial government officials are among those expected to exchange views and discuss regulatory changes during the session. 

Capital Ideas 2006 - An Open Dialogue for Business Leaders and Capital Markets Professionals on Principles-based Securities Regulation in Action, will be held Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia St. with registration at 8 a.m. For registration and conference details, please visit www.bcsc.bc.ca.

The B.C. Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating trading in securities within the province. Media interested in attending should contact Andrew Poon, Media Relations, 604-899-6880.