The capital assets guide is a tool that the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), an association of provincial and territorial securities regulators, has published so that investors can understand how different types of securities are treated under Canadian law.
If you invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), you’ll most likely encounter a variety of different security types. This article will provide an overview of what a capital assets guide is, why they are used, and also some examples of how they might be relevant to you if you invest in stocks or bonds.
What is a capital assets guide?
A capital assets guide is a tool that the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), an association of provincial and territorial securities regulators, has published so that investors can understand how different types of securities are treated under Canadian law. The guide is meant to be a comprehensive overview of the laws that govern the different types of securities available for investment.
It’s not meant to be a substitute for reading securities law provisions directly—a lawyer or professional advisor can help you understand the relevant laws better—but it can help investors get a better sense of what kinds of investments are available to them and how they might be affected by different laws.

Why is the CSA releasing Capital Assets Guides?
The CSA has been publishing these guides since 2004, and the most recent guide was published in June 2017. The CSA has released a new guide every two years since 2004, which means that we are currently in the third round of guides. The most recent guide was published to coincide with the start of the fall selling season, when investors may be considering making new investments.
The CSA wants to make sure that investors are well-informed about the types of securities available to them so that they can make informed investment decisions. The CSA also wants to make sure that investors aren’t being “misled” by misleading information about the types of securities that are available to them.
Examples of securities covered by Capital Assets Guides
All of the following securities are covered by the most recent guide from the CSA:
– Equity-linked financial instruments – Equity mutual funds – Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – Debt securities – Real estate investment trust (REIT) securities – Gold and silver coins and bullion – Collectibles – Certificate of deposit (CD) irredeemable – Money market funds – Mutual funds – Real estate investment trusts (REITs) – Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – Debt securities – Real estate investment trusts (REITs) – Gold and silver coins and bullion – Collectibles
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How to use a capital assets guide
The guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the laws that govern each type of security. For example, if you want to know how a particular mutual fund is governed, you’ll want to read the laws that govern that fund directly. The same is true if you want to know the specific rules that govern a particular type of security.
If you’re investing in a particular type of security, then you’ll want to read the laws that govern that type of security directly. When reading the guide, keep in mind that it is simply a summary of the laws that govern each type of security. The guide is not meant to be a comprehensive summary of the laws that govern each type of security.
Final Words: Should You Care About a Capital Assets Guide?
A capital assets guide is only relevant if you’re investing in any of the types of securities covered by the guide. If you don’t invest in any of these types of securities, then the guide is irrelevant and you should feel free to ignore it.