CIRO converts hearing on the merits date to settlement hearing in the matter of Autumn Farmer

September 25, 2023 (Toronto, Ontario) – The New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada, now the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (“CIRO”) commenced disciplinary proceedings in respect of Autumn Kaylee Farmer (the “Respondent”) by Notice of Hearing dated March 27, 2023 (the “Notice of Hearing”).

The hearing on the merits in this matter, set for September 25, 2023, will proceed instead as a settlement hearing, electronically by videoconference before a Hearing Panel of the CIRO’s Nova Scotia District Hearing Committee commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Atlantic), or as soon thereafter as the matter can be held.

The subject matter of the proposed settlement agreement concerns matters for which the Respondent may be disciplined pursuant to sections 20 and 24.1 of MFDA By-law No. 1 (now Mutual Fund Dealer Rules 7.3 and 7.4.1). In particular, the settlement agreement concerns the allegations that:

1. Between August 2020 and October 2020, the Respondent signed the electronic signatures of five clients on 14 account forms and submitted the forms to the Member for processing, contrary to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 (formerly MFDA Rule 2.1.1); and
2. In October 2020, the Respondent misled the Member during the course of its investigation into the Respondent's conduct, contrary to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 (formerly MFDA Rule 2.1.1).

Settlement hearings of CIRO are typically held in the absence of the public pursuant to section 20.5 of MFDA By-Law No. 1 (now Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 7.3.5) and Rule 15.2 (2) of the Mutual Fund Dealer Rules of Procedure. If the Hearing Panel accepts the settlement agreement, then the proceeding will become open to the public and a copy of the decision of the Hearing Panel and the settlement agreement will be made available at www.mfda.ca.

A copy of the Notice of Hearing is available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Notice of Hearing, the Respondent conducted business in the Kentville, Nova Scotia area.

Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada’s debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians’ trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit www.ciro.ca.

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