Last May, Canada’s Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty tabled a bill that aimed to replace the 13 provincial and territorial securities commissions with a national one. The government immediately submitted its proposal to the Supreme Court of Canada, to get an opinion on its constitutionality. The IGPPO deposited a position paper to draw the court’s […]

The IGOPP approves several elements in the bill, that are in line with the recommendations contained in its report, published in 2008, on governance in Quebec public sector health and social services establishments. However, the IGOPP believes that the four following parts of the bill should be modified, in order to improve governance in the […]

The financial crisis of 2007-08 has generated new rules, regulations and guidelines to cope with the flaws and faults of the international financial system. What kind of regulatory context is likely to evolve from this massive effort? Will it be sufficient to prevent the next bubble and crisis? Or is this only a political operation to placate an angry […]

To stifle financial speculation and ban the shenanigans that brought on the devastating stock market crash of 1929, the U.S. Congress enacted a series of measures to save a moribund capitalist system. The Glass-Steagall Act of 1934, in barely 53 pages, mandated a new regulatory framework for banks and other financial institutions in the United […]

In the Globe and Mail of December 1st, Mr. Monahan states boldly, peremptorily, that “The policy case for a single national regulator is surely overwhelming”. But it is not, far from it. His first argument, if that is what it is, has to do with the issuance of shares in all parts of Canada. Mr. […]

The IGPPO, through its chairman of the board and general manager presented a brief to the Committee on Public Finance regarding Bill 123, an Act Respecting the Amalgamation of the Société Générale de Financement du Québec and Investissement Québec. This brief details the Institute’s comments on the legislation as well as a set of concrete suggestions. […]

*(The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of IGOPP or of its board of directors) In April 1990, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted one of the strongest anti-takeover bill passed by any state. The immediate purpose of that bill was to block the Canadian Belzberg family in its attempt to acquire Armstrong World Industries, […]

(This comment reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Institute or of its board of directors) It is curious, even strange, to hear the federal finance minister on May 26th 2010 repeat, like a well-trained parrot, the same lame arguments about why Canada must have a single, national, securities commission. […]

According to IGOPP, the proposed Business Corporations Act (Bill 63) is a quantum leap in the right direction. It modernize and clarify some dsyfunctionnal aspaects of our business laws and legal system. Furthermore, Bill 63 introduce some useful innovations. Howewer, some modifications to the Bill would improve the chances of Québec to become a destination […]

According to IGOPP, the proposed Business Corporations Act (Bill 63) is a quantum leap in the right direction. It modernize and clarify some dsyfunctionnal aspaects of our business laws and legal system. Furthermore, Bill 63 introduce some useful innovations. Howewer, some modifications to the Bill would improve the chances of Québec to become a destination […]

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s obsession with creating a national securities commission is becoming clearer. On Tuesday evening, he revealed the cost of the new federal infrastructure project he wishes to roll out, which comes to $154 million for 2009-2010 alone (as indicated on page 102 of the budget speech). We understand Mr. Flaherty’s commitment to […]

Admittedly, this is no easy task. The Hockin Report is the third attempt in recent years at selling the idea. Which combination of carrot and stick can sway those provinces that are still reluctant to hand over to a federal or national organization their regulatory and supervisory powers of securities markets? Instead of focusing on […]

In a report entitled The Independence of Board Members: A Quest for Legitimacy, the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations (IGPPO) proposes that any organization governed by a board of directors should strive to constitute a board that is both legitimate and credible. The issue at stake is not so much the independence […]

The Institute for Governance collaborators issued a report outlining their observations and viewpoints regarding the merger between the Montréal Exchange and the TSX Group. As part of the public consultation process launched by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in February 2008 regarding the merger between the Montréal Exchange and the TSX Group and the […]

Calls to eliminate the current architecture of the securities regulatory apparatus in Canada and replace it with a single, national securities commission have reached fever pitch over the last few weeks. Unsubstantiated claims that “Canada is the laughing stock of the rest of the world” are bandied around as if that were a compelling argument […]

The 4th Conference of Montréal on globalized economies wove together three different but closely related strands of issues and challenges confronting Europe and directly or indirectly a good part of the world. What’s happening now in Europe will have momentous ramifications throughout the world, bringing forth major shifts in economic power and new alignments of […]