Recently in the Investor Relations (IR) industry; Beginning in March 2026, directors and officers of foreign private issuers, including many Canadian companies, must comply with the SEC’s Section 16 insider reporting rules, introducing a two-business-day disclosure window for insider transactions. At the same time, J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s move to replace proxy advisory firms such as ISS and Glass Lewis with its proprietary AI platform, Proxy IQ, signals a structural shift in how institutional investors evaluate governance and cast votes. Canadian securities regulators are also closely monitoring emerging risks tied to AI concentration, stablecoin growth, and evolving liquidity dynamics in capital markets. Meanwhile, although Canadian organizations are accelerating AI investment, many are still working to align these ambitions with the governance frameworks needed for responsible deployment.

New SEC Insider Reporting Rules Raise the Speed and Visibility of Global Disclosure

Beginning March 2026, directors and officers of foreign private issuers, including many Canadian companies, must comply with the SEC’s Section 16 insider reporting requirements, introducing a two-business-day disclosure timeline for insider transactions. This shift significantly increases the speed and visibility of insider filings in U.S. markets, where automated systems monitor disclosures in real time and can react within seconds. For investor relations teams, the change underscores the need for proactive coordination with executives, legal teams and brokers to manage disclosure timing, maintain governance credibility and avoid reputational risk tied to late or misinterpreted filings.

Source: TMX Newsfile

J.P. Morgan’s Shift to AI Voting Signals a New Era in Proxy Decision-Making

J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s decision to replace proxy advisory firms such as ISS and Glass Lewis with its proprietary AI platform “Proxy IQ” signals a structural shift in how institutional investors evaluate governance and cast votes. As large asset managers increasingly adopt AI-driven analysis and customized voting frameworks, proxy outcomes may become less predictable and less dependent on traditional advisory recommendations. For investor relations teams, this shift underscores the need for more direct engagement with institutional investors and clearer governance narratives as shareholders rely more heavily on independent, data-driven decision tools.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Canadian Regulators Flag AI, Liquidity and Crypto as Emerging Market Risk Areas

Canadian securities regulators have identified artificial intelligence concentration, stablecoin growth and evolving liquidity dynamics as key areas to monitor for potential systemic risk in capital markets. While the financial system remained resilient through 2025 despite trade tensions and economic uncertainty, regulators emphasize the importance of ongoing vigilance as technology and market structures evolve. For market participants and investor relations teams, the report reinforces the need to understand how regulatory focus areas, from AI dependencies to private asset liquidity, may influence investor sentiment, disclosure expectations and broader market stability.

Source: Canadian Securities Administrators

Canadian Businesses Face a Growing Gap Between AI Ambition and Governance

Canadian organizations are rapidly investing in artificial intelligence, but many are struggling to match their ambitions with the governance structures required to deploy AI responsibly. While most leaders view trustworthy AI as a driver of long-term value, a significant number of companies still lack dedicated oversight, clear ownership and full visibility into their AI systems. The findings highlight a critical transition point for 2026, where organizations that embed strong governance, skills development and transparency into their AI strategies will be better positioned to build trust and sustain competitive advantage.

Source: PWC

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