Methodology v1
CIRO
AA
CIRO
Tier 1

Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization

(CIRO)
AAself regulatoryForex Supervised
Canada
Toronto
Est. 2023
0 licensed entities
1,700 firms

Regulatory Snapshot

Enforcement5/5
Transparency5/5
Protection5/5
Complaints5/5
Strictness5/5
Overall5.0/5
Neg. Balance Protection
Segregated Accounts
Min. CapitalCAD 250,000
Description

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is Canada's national self-regulatory organisation, formed in 2023 from the merger of IIROC and MFDA. CIRO oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, and trading activity on Canada's debt and equity marketplaces, providing one of the most comprehensive investor protection frameworks in the Americas.

Key Regulations
CIRO RulesUniversal Market Integrity Rules (UMIR)Provincial Securities Acts
Regulatory Scorecard
Enforcement Power5/5
Transparency5/5
Investor Protection5/5
Complaint Resolution5/5
Licensing Strictness5/5
Overall Average5.0/5
Detailed Overview

About CIRO

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) was established on 1 January 2023 through the amalgamation of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). CIRO is Canada's national self-regulatory organisation overseeing all investment dealers and mutual fund dealers, as well as trading activity on Canada's equity and debt marketplaces.

Investor Protection

The Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) provides coverage of up to CAD 1 million per account category in the event of a CIRO member firm's insolvency. This represents one of the highest levels of investor compensation globally, significantly exceeding most European and Asian schemes.

Investor Protection
  • Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) — up to CAD 1 million per account
  • Comprehensive dealer member regulation
  • Market integrity rules and surveillance
  • Investor complaint handling and arbitration
Licensing Requirements
Minimum CapitalCAD 250,000
Audit FrequencyAnnual
Reporting FrequencyMonthly
License Timeframe6-12 months
Segregated Accounts
Negative Balance Protection
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Leverage Limits by Instrument
InstrumentRetailProfessional
Major Forex1:501:50
Minor Forex1:201:20
Gold1:201:20
Indices1:201:20
Jurisdiction Coverage
Primary Jurisdiction: Canada

CIRO is Canada's national self-regulatory organization formed from the 2023 merger of IIROC and MFDA.

Dispute Resolution

Body: Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)

Visit Dispute Resolution

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