For investment funds, the blanket relief provides a 60-day extension for certain filing, delivery and prospectus renewal obligations normally required to be made during the period from June 2, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

For non-investment fund issuers, the blanket relief provides a 45-day extension for certain filing, delivery and base shelf prospectus renewal obligations normally due or required to be made during the period from June 2, 2020 to August 31, 2020.

Investment funds and non-investment fund issuers that have already used the prior relief announced on March 23, 2020 to extend any filing, delivery and prospectus renewal deadline occurring on or before June 1, 2020 cannot use this relief to further extend the deadline.

Additionally, to rely on the relief, non-investment fund issuers must issue a news release before the required filing deadline and comply with other conditions. Issuers and their counsel are encouraged to review the respective orders to ensure compliance with these conditions.

Re­view the press re­lease on the CSA's web­site.

Deviating slightly from the original proposal but not changing the core practical relief, the Board decided to allow the expedient to be applied to COVID-19-related rent concessions to payments originally due on or before 30 June 2021. The Board also decided to require disclosure of the amount recognised in profit or loss to reflect changes in lease payments that arise from COVID-19-related rent concessions. Finally, the Board decided that in the reporting period in which a lessee first applies the amendment, it is not required to disclose the quantitative information required by paragraph 28(f) of IAS 8. All decisions were supported by 13 Board members.

The amendment will have an effective date of June 1, 2020 with early application permitted. Despite the wording "annual reporting periods" the amendment would also be available for interim reports.

For lessors, the Board decided take no further action. It argued that as many entities face significant challenges at the moment, there needs to be sufficient reason to undertake standard-setting, which the Board did not see enough evidence for. This decision was supported by all 14 Board members.

The Board did not see a need for re-exposure and no Board member intends to dissent from the issuance of the amendment. The Board is satisfied that it has complied with the applicable due process requirements and gave permission to begin the balloting process for the amendment. These decisions were supported by all 14 Board members.The staff expect issuing a final amendment on or around May 28, 2020.

This resource highlights topics that may be relevant for private enterprises to consider when preparing financial statements in accordance with Part II of the CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting.

Review the publication on the AcSB's website.

The two-part document covers firstly topics relevant to all professional accountants, and secondly, topics pertinent to auditors and other professional accountants in public practice. Dr. Stavros Thomadakis, Chairman of the IESBA, offers his thoughts in the publication’s foreword.

Review the press release and Q&A on the IESBA's website.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant economic impact on Canadian businesses, including not-for-profit organizations. This resource highlights topics that may be relevant for organizations to consider when preparing financial statements in accordance with Part III of the CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting.

Review the publication on the AcSB's website.

The letter agrees with the intent of the proposals, but recommends that the relief provided relate to all rent concessions that occur as a direct consequence of COVID-19, rather than limiting the proposal to lease payments due in 2020. The AcSB also recommends that the IASB provide the same relief from applying the lease modification guidance to lessors.

Review the letter on the IASB's website.

Are you negotiating a debt agreement with your lender? Debt modification versus extinguishment assessment under IFRS 9 can be tricky. This overview provides some useful tips on performing this assessment and other key considerations on debt modification accounting for both borrowers and lenders.

Review the publication on the AcSB's website.

COVID-19 pandemic affects insurance companies in many ways – from market volatility on investment portfolios to changes in cash flow estimates relating to insurance liabilities.

Review the publication on the AcSB's website.

With this conditional temporary relief, the CSA is giving public companies until December 31, 2020 to file their executive compensation disclosure. The CSA is also providing companies with temporary relief from the requirements to send, or send upon request, copies of their annual or interim financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) to investors within certain time periods.

Under securities legislation, public companies must meet several deadlines tied to sending investors a management information circular for their AGM. These include requirements to file executive compensation disclosure within 140 days (non-venture companies) or 180 days (venture companies) of their year end. Additionally, public companies that have not sent an annual request form must, within 140 days of their year end, send copies of their annual financial statements and MD&A. Upon request, public companies must also send copies of their annual or interim financial statements and MD&A to investors.  

The CSA is implementing the relief through local blanket orders that are substantially harmonized across the country. Market participants can view these orders on CSA members’ websites.

Companies that intend to delay filing their executive compensation disclosure must first issue a news release disclosing that they intend to do so and should consult the blanket orders to ensure that they comply with the conditions for the relief. Companies are expected to provide investors with sufficient lead time to review executive compensation disclosure before their AGM.

Review the press release and publication on the CSA's website.

Review the press release and guidance on the IAASB's website.