The report also includes a sampling of best practices in fostering greater gender diversity disclosed by leading Canadian companies.

In particular, our research findings provide insight into

• the breakdown and percentages of women on boards for full-year 2018
• the breakdown and percentages of women executive officers for full-year 2018
• the industry breakdown of women directors for full-year 2018
• diversity policies and targets for full-year 2018
• 2019 mid-year results regarding the number and percentages of women directors and women in executive officer positions by industry
• board policies on diversity and policies related to the nomination and identification of women on boards
• targets for women on boards and in executive officer positions

The data presented in this report was obtained by examining public disclosure documents filed by all TSX-listed companies that are subject to National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices, which requires disclosure respecting the representation of women on boards and in executive officer positions.

Review the press release and report on Osler's website.

Recommendations from proxy advisory firms such as ISS and Glass Lewis can have a significant impact on the outcome of business conducted at shareholder meetings, especially if institutional investors comprise a significant component of the company's shareholder base. Canadian public companies should review the updates with their legal counsel to determine the likely impact and take steps to mitigate any potential adverse voting recommendations from ISS or Glass Lewis.

The guideline includes an update to the ratification of the auditor: Glass Lewis has codified specific factors it will take into consideration when reviewing auditor ratification proposals. Specifically, Glass Lewis will assess an auditor's tenure, patterns of inaccurate audits, and any ongoing litigation or significant controversies that call into question an auditor's effectiveness. These factors may contribute to a negative voting recommendation against auditor ratification in limited circumstances.

Review the summary on Bennett Jones LLP's website.

Overall, the letter strongly supports global comparability in financial reporting. It also urges the CSA to weigh the benefits of leading in this area against increasing the regulatory disclosure burden on Canadian issuers beyond that of other jurisdictions. Accordingly, the letter encourages the CSA to:

• closely consider the requirements of other global securities regulators to ensure that Canadian issuers are providing comparable information to issuers in other jurisdictions; and
• work with regulators in other jurisdictions to ensure that Canadian issuers are not at a competitive disadvantage when compared to their international peers, as the result of the proposed increase in disclosure requirements.

Review the press release and comment letter on the AcSB's website.

After presenting a profile of companies and the outcomes of continuous disclosure reviews, the summary outlines the main deficiencies observed by the AMF in its oversight activities and gives examples of corrected disclosure. As in previous years, the summary discloses some key figures regarding the representation of women on boards and in executive officer positions of Québec companies, thus helping to monitor progress on this issue.

The AMF also recaps draft regulatory initiatives and staff notices that were published during the past financial year. Lastly, in the section on innovation, the AMF presents the efforts taken to establish a framework for crypto-asset trading platforms and to migrate the SEDAR, SEDI and NRD national electronic systems to a central system.

Review the press release and report on the AMF's website.

This update includes:

• Background on the Regulation and definition of virtual currency
• Dealers in virtual currency that offer services to Canadian clients will generally be considered MSBs under the PCMLTFA and therefore subject to similar customer due diligence, recordkeeping, monitoring and reporting requirements as other reporting entities
• Regulation of foreign cryptocurrency exchanges as foreign MSBs
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements for virtual currency transactions

Review the regulation on the Canada Gazette's website and a summary on Osler LLP's website.

This Blanket Order provides an exemption from prospectus and registration requirements to facilitate start-up crowdfunding. Both issuers and registered funding portals can use the Blanket Order. It is also available to unregistered funding portals as soon as they comply with the terms of the registration exemption, which includes receiving confirmation that ASC staff have received all required documents.

Review the press release and the Blanket Order on the ASC's website.

Platforms, depending on how they operate and the crypto assets they make available for trading, may be subject to securities and/or derivatives regulation. Depending on their structure, they may also introduce novel features that create risks to investors and Canada’s capital markets that may not be fully addressed by the existing regulatory framework. Where securities legislation applies to platforms, the CSA and IIROC are considering a tailored regulatory framework to address these novel features and risks.

The consultation paper seeks input on a number of areas that will assist in determining appropriate requirements for platforms. These include how to address custody and verification of assets, price determination, market surveillance, systems and business continuity planning, conflicts of interest, crypto-asset insurance, and clearing and settlement. The CSA and IIROC continue to engage with international regulators about their approach to platforms, and welcome input on a variety of regulatory approaches that exist in this area.

Review the press release and consultation paper on the CSA members' website.

Key trends from this year’s review include:

• The total number of board seats occupied by women increased to 17 per cent in 2019, compared to 11 per cent in 2015.
• Seventy-three per cent of issuers had at least one woman on their board, an increase from 49 per cent in 2015.
• When board vacancies were filled, a third of those positions were filled by women.
• Five per cent of issuers had a female chair of their board.
• Half of issuers adopted a policy relating to the representation of women on their board, representing a significant increase since 2015.

Review the press release on the CSA's website and the Staff Notice on the participating jurisdictions' website.

This was the fourth consecutive annual review of disclosure related to women on boards and in executive officer positions conducted by the participating jurisdictions.

The data was compiled from public documents filed on SEDAR and includes the name, industry and year-end of the 648 non-venture issuers who were included in the review sample. These issuers had year-ends between December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2018, and filed information circulars or annual information forms by July 31, 2018.

Review the press release on the the CSA's website and the Staff Notice on the OSC's website. 

The notice clarifies existing legal requirements and does not create any new ones. It reinforces and expands upon the guidance provided in CSA Staff Notice 51-333 Environmental Reporting Guidance and should be read in conjunction with that notice. CSA Staff Notice 51-333 continues to provide guidance to issuers on existing continuous disclosure requirements relating to a broad range of environmental matters, including climate change.

Review the press release and Staff Notice on the CSA's website.