Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
The BCSC is a member of the CSA, a council of the securities regulators of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. The CSA works on initiatives to streamline and harmonize Canada’s securities regulatory requirements. CSA members work together to provide effective protection for investors and efficient service to market participants. The members of the CSA fund its operations on a voluntary basis.
View the CSA mission, strategic plan and structure 
The CSA has streamlined the approval process for prospectuses and exemption applications through a Passport process. Under Passport, a public issuer or registrant can deal with its principal regulator to obtain some regulatory decisions from all provinces. The CSA also relies on mutual reliance principles in other areas like enforcement and the supervision of exchanges, self-regulatory organizations.
The CSA has developed electronic databases that make it easier for issuers, insiders and registrants to comply with regulatory requirements:
- SEDAR - System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of issuer information
- SEDI - System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders
- NRD - National Registration System
Through their websites, SEDAR and SEDI also make information about public issuers and their insiders available to investors. The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited operates SEDAR, SEDI, and NRD on behalf of the CSA.
The CSA also disseminates information on cease trade orders issued by the securities commissions in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec, through the National Cease Trade Order Database (NCTO) .
The CSA is a member of the Joint Forum of Financial Market Regulators (Joint Forum). The objective of the Joint Forum is to facilitate and coordinate the development of harmonized cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional solutions to financial services regulatory issues.
The CSA publishes news releases with information on the progress of regulatory initiatives and other CSA developments. The organization also publishes semi-annual reports on the enforcement activities of its members in the CSA Report on Enforcement Activities .