The disclosure of enterprise risk management (ERM) information: An overview of Canadian regulations for risk disclosure

Abstract

This paper discusses the mandatory risk disclosures in Canada under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). U.S. mandatory accounting disclosures of risk are also briefly examined, since some Canadian companies are cross-listed in the US. Mandatory disclosures of risk under the Basel II and Basel III Accords for the international regulation of banks are discussed as well as the assessment of ERM by Standard & Poor’s. The risk disclosures in the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) section of the annual report prescribed by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) in National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations are examined. Since these risk disclosures are voluntary, the actual disclosures in the MD&A section of the annual report are entirely at the discretion of management subject to effective board oversight.