(1) Every member of an independent review committee, in exercising his or her powers and discharging his or her duties related to the investment fund, and, for greater certainty, not to any other person, as a member of the independent review committee must
(a) act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of the investment fund; and
(b) exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
(2) Every member of an independent review committee must comply with this Instrument and the written charter of the independent review committee required under section 3.6.
(3) A member of the independent review committee does not breach paragraph (1)(b), if the member exercised the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances, including reliance in good faith on
(a) a report or certification represented as full and true to the independent review committee by the manager or an entity related to the manager; or
(b) a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by the person.
(4) A member of the independent review committee has complied with his or her duties under paragraph (1)(a) if the member has relied in good faith on
(a) a report or certification represented as full and true to the independent review committee by the manager or an entity related to the manager; or
(b) a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a statement made by the person.
Commentary
1. The standard of care for IRC members under this section is consistent with the special relationship between the IRC and the investment fund.
The CSA consider the role of the members of the IRC to be similar to corporate directors, though with a much more limited mandate, and therefore we would expect any defences available to corporate directors to also be available to IRC members.
2. The CSA consider the best interests of the investment fund referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to generally be consistent with the interests of the securityholders in the investment fund as a whole.
3. It is not the intention of the CSA to create a duty of care on the part of the IRC to any other person under paragraph (1)(b).