News

UPDATED
March 25, 2020

MFSA announces operational changes in response to COVID-19

The Manitoba Financial Services Agency (MFSA) is taking precautions to protect the health and safety of its employees and the public in response to the challenges of COVID-19.

Our Business Continuity Plan follows the Government of Manitoba BCP managed by the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization.

As of Wednesday, March 25, a majority of MFSA staff, including staff of the Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) and Financial Institutions Regulation Branch (FIRB), will be working from home. Essential staff working from our offices at 400 St. Mary Avenue will follow the Province of Manitoba’s best practices on social distancing. All essential and core operations will continue, however, many will be delivered remotely. 

We are aware that many of our regulated entities and market participants have also started to work remotely and understand that this will make business more challenging. We support your efforts as we all weather these changes and will be flexible in our regulatory expectations during this difficult time. 

While on site compliance reviews are postponed until further notice, normal course compliance and oversight activities will continue. We ask that any registrants who have implemented their Business Continuity Plan or who have started to work remotely please advise the MSC at 
oversight@gov.mb.ca

MSC will not be holding in-person hearings until at least April 30, 2020. Staff will reach out to parties with hearings scheduled between now and April 30 to determine if a hearing may proceed via teleconference.

MSC’s Real Estate Division is working to keep business as usual for our clients. All in-person traffic should be directed to the main reception desk, and we are encouraging the use of mail, email and fax to deliver renewal and transfer documents to our office wherever possible. For new registrations, or other inquiries, please contact our office at 204-945-2562 or 
realestate@gov.mb.ca.

The MSC continues to collaborate with the Canadian Securities Administrators, to coordinate our approach for market participants on filing deadlines, meeting expectations for Annual General Meetings and other compliance expectations. We are also actively monitoring market operations and are working collaboratively with IIROC.

We will continue to adapt plans and publish further updates on our operations, as the situation develops.

The Manitoba Financial Services Agency is a Special Operating Agency of the Government of Manitoba. Through its two divisions, The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) and Financial Institutions Regulation Branch (FIRB), the MFSA regulates securities, real estate, cooperatives, credit unions, and insurance in the province.

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Media Inquiries:                      
Jason Booth, Communications Coordinator, MFSA  |  204.945.1660 | 
jason.booth@gov.mb.ca