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Everything you need to know about the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO): a dynamic resource

Welcome to BLG and BLG Beyond AUM Law’s dynamic resource on the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). We invite you to bookmark and revisit this page which will be updated to reflect developments of importance to CIRO registered firms. Resulting from the amalgamation of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA), CIRO has been operating since January 1, 2023 and has led to – and will continue to generate – significant changes in the registration and oversight of investment and mutual fund dealers across Canada, as well as new opportunities. This resource is designed to help you find, understand and act on CIRO-related topics, such as new developments, rules, registration requirements, enforcement and examinations and more.

Recent developments

  • April 16, 2026 - CIRO has issued a Request for comments– Proposal to harmonize CIRO Continuing Education Programs – Phase 2. They are proposing to fully align CE requirements across Investment Dealers and Mutual Fund Dealers, including Québec, under a single, principles‑based framework. Key changes include standardized CE hours, harmonized compliance and professional development requirements, elimination of carry‑forward and legacy exemptions, expanded CE coverage to certain executives, consistent proration and leave‑of‑absence relief, and the introduction of automatic suspension for CE non‑compliance. CIRO proposes to align all dealers to a calendar‑year CE cycle and extend post‑cycle reporting to 30 days. Comments are due July 15, 2026, with final rules expected in 2027 and a proposed effective date of January 1, 2028.
  • April 9, 2026 - Effective July 1, 2026, CIRO assumes full regulatory oversight for Mutual Fund Dealers (MFDs) operating in Québec. CIRO is making Housekeeping Amendments to Fee Model — Ending of Transitionary Measures Described in Appendix C and Appendix B (Part 2) for Mutual Fund Dealers Operating in Québec on June 30, 2026. The amendments remove Transitionary Measures for Revenue Calculation and to stop the collection of CIRO's activity‑based NRD registration fees for Québec MFDs as of July 1, 2026. These changes are classified as housekeeping with no material market or investor impact, and result in an immaterial reallocation of approximately $0.8 million between dealer categories, alongside estimated annual fee savings of about $0.8 million for Québec MFDs.
  • April 7, 2026 – CIRO published its 2027 Annual Priorities outlining their focus for the final year of its 2025–2027 Strategic Plan and emphasizing completion of integration initiatives and continued advancement of its broader strategic objectives. Key priorities include finalizing a harmonized rulebook for investment and mutual fund dealers, completing CE harmonization, advancing advisor compensation reforms, and addressing the future of dual registration. CIRO will also review complaint-handling timelines, engage with the CSA in enhanced anti-fraud initiatives, conduct investor research (including behavioural “speed bump" interventions), consider improvements to account transfers, and guidance on the Client-Focused Reforms. Other priorities focus on regulatory evolution (operational efficiency, innovation testing through InnovateSafe, and enhanced cyber resilience), access to advice (reviewing the framework for tailored online advice), registration and proficiency (operationalizing delegated registration responsibilities), and market regulation (greater transparency through a market regulation annual report and a review of UMIR to better support smaller dealers and junior issuers).

Key Contacts