British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)

By
Will Kenton
Full Bio
Will Kenton is an expert on the economy and investing laws and regulations. He previously held senior editorial roles at Investopedia and Kapitall Wire and holds a MA in Economics from The New School for Social Research and Doctor of Philosophy in English literature from NYU.
Learn about our editorial policies
Updated October 18, 2022
Reviewed by Andy Smith
British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)

Investopedia / Michela Buttignol

What Is the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)?

The British Columbia Securities Commission is one of 13 independent securities trading regulators in Canada. The BCSC operates as an independent Canadian government agency responsible for the regulation of securities trading in British Columbia, Canada.

The British Columbia Securities Commission is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It seeks to oversee securities trading and the enacting of applicable legislation in the province of British Columbia.

Key Takeaways

  • The British Columbia Securities Commission is one of Canada's 13 independent securities trading regulators, providing oversight for the province of British Columbia.
  • The BCSC is a part of the Canadian Securities Administrators, which seeks to bring together the country's 13 independent securities regulators under one umbrella organization.
  • The BCSC is structured with eight commissioners and one chairperson serving as leaders for oversight management.

Understanding the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)

Each of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada has its own independent securities trading agency. Each agency works independently but is a part of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which seeks to bring together the agencies under one umbrella organization for unification and collective collaboration.

The British Columbia Securities Commission was implemented by the Securities Act, RSBC 1996, c. 418. The act gave the Commission regulatory oversight authority over the securities market in British Columbia.

Members of the CSA

The CSA serves to bring together the securities regulators of Canada. The 13 members representing Canada’s provinces and territories include the following (alphabetically):

  • Alberta Securities Commission
  • British Columbia Securities Commission
  • Manitoba Securities Commission
  • New Brunswick's Financial and Consumer Services Commission
  • Newfoundland and Labrador's Office of the Superintendent of Securities of the Service
  • Northwest Territories Securities Office
  • Nova Scotia Securities Commission
  • Nunavut Securities Office
  • Ontario Securities Commission
  • Prince Edward Island's Office of the Superintendent of Securities
  • Québec's Autorité Des Marchés Financiers
  • Saskatchewan's Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
  • Yukon Territories' Office of the Superintendent of Securities

BCSC Framework

Like the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission and other global securities regulators, the BCSC seeks to maintain orderly and fair securities trading activities for all market participants within its jurisdiction.

Primary rules and regulations pertaining to the British Columbia financial market include the following:

  • The Securities Act R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 418
  • Securities Rules B.C. Reg. 194/97
  • Rule Making Procedure Regulation B.C. Reg. 195/97
  • Securities Regulation B.C. Reg. 196/97

Rules and regulations govern both the registration and reporting of publicly traded companies as well as the oversight of individual advisers.

Exchanges

The primary exchanges trading public securities in British Columbia under the oversight of the BCSC include the following:

Issuers on these exchanges must make regular filings to report the financial performance of their firms publicly.

BCSC Structure, Mission, and Responsibilities

The BCSC is structured with eight commissioners and one chairperson. The nine-person group is responsible for managing oversight of all documentation, systems, and regulations pertaining to the British Columbia securities industry. Commissioners work with stakeholders, industry groups, market participants, and other regulators within the CSA. The BCSC also provides some thought leadership analysis on the British Columbia market.

Like all securities regulators, the BCSC works to facilitate a safe, secure, and fair public trading market for all participants. Its responsibilities are broad in scope. Some of its key regulatory oversight aspects include the following:

  • Ensuring public confidence in the securities market
  • Maintaining fairness and mitigating securities fraud
  • Maintaining a securities industry trading system that offers investment opportunities for both investors and businesses
  • Provides for capital market innovation
  • Maintain a market with integrity
  • Require accountability for transparency and reporting to the public
  • Facilitate a marketplace that is accommodative to evolving market changes
  • Receiving and reviewing registrations and disclosures as mandated by regulations
  • Maintaining central databases for regulatory filings
  • Taking enforcement actions when securities laws are breached
  • Educating investors and businesses
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. British Columbia Securities Commission. "Securities Law." Accessed Aug. 17, 2021.

  2. British Columbia Securities Commission. "About." Accessed Aug. 17, 2021.

Open a New Bank Account
×
The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.
Sponsor
Name
Description