National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations

(1) Subject to subsection 4.8(6), a reporting issuer must file annual financial statements that include

(a) a statement of comprehensive income, a statement of changes in equity, and a statement of cash flows for

(i) the most recently completed financial year; and

(ii) the financial year immediately preceding the most recently completed financial year, if any;

(b) a statement of financial position as at the end of each of the periods referred to in paragraph (a);

(c) in the following circumstances, a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the financial year immediately preceding the most recently completed financial year:

(i) the reporting issuer discloses in its annual financial statements an unreserved statement of compliance with IFRS, and 

(ii) the reporting issuer

(A) applies an accounting policy retrospectively in its annual financial statements,

(B) makes a retrospective restatement of items in its annual financial statements, or

(C) reclassifies items in its annual financial statements;

(d) in the case of the reporting issuer’s first IFRS financial statements, the opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRS; and

(e) notes to the annual financial statements.

(2) Annual financial statements filed under subsection (1) must be audited.

(3) If a reporting issuer presents the components of profit or loss in a separate income statement, the separate income statement must be displayed immediately before the statement of comprehensive income filed under subsection (1).

The audited annual financial statements required to be filed under section 4.1 must be filed

(a) in the case of a reporting issuer other than a venture issuer, on or before the earlier of

(i) the 90th day after the end of its most recently completed financial year; and

(ii) the date of filing, in a foreign jurisdiction, annual financial statements for its most recently completed financial year; or

(b) in the case of a venture issuer, on or before the earlier of

(i) the 120th day after the end of its most recently completed financial year; and

(ii) the date of filing, in a foreign jurisdiction, annual financial statements for its most recently completed financial year.

(1) Subject to sections 4.7 and 4.10, a reporting issuer must file an interim financial report for each interim period ended after it became a reporting issuer.

(2) Subject to subsections 4.7(4), 4.8(7), 4.8(8) and 4.10(3), the interim financial report required to be filed under subsection (1) must include

(a) a statement of financial position as at the end of the interim period and a statement of financial position as at the end of the immediately preceding financial year, if any;

(b) a statement of comprehensive income, a statement of changes in equity and a statement of cash flows, all for the year-to-date interim period, and comparative financial information for the corresponding interim period in the immediately preceding financial year, if any;

(c) for interim periods other than the first interim period in a reporting issuer’s financial year, a statement of comprehensive income for the three month period ending on the last day of the interim period and comparative financial information for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding financial year, if any;

(d) in the following circumstances, a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the immediately preceding financial year:

(i) the reporting issuer discloses in its interim financial report an unreserved statement of compliance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting, and

(ii) the reporting issuer

(A) applies an accounting policy retrospectively in its interim financial report,

(B) makes a retrospective restatement of items in its interim financial report, or

(C) reclassifies items in its interim financial report;

(e) in the case of the reporting issuer’s first interim financial report required to be filed in the year of adopting IFRS, the opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRS; and

(f) notes to the interim financial report.

(2.1) If a reporting issuer presents the components of profit or loss in a separate income statement, the separate income statement must be displayed immediately before the statement of comprehensive income filed under subsection (2).

(3) Disclosure of Auditor Review of an Interim Financial Report

(a) If an auditor has not performed a review of an interim financial report required to be filed under subsection (1), the interim financial report must be accompanied by a notice indicating that the interim financial report has not been reviewed by an auditor.

(b) If a reporting issuer engaged an auditor to perform a review of an interim financial report required to be filed under subsection (1) and the auditor was unable to complete the review, the interim financial report must be accompanied by a notice indicating that the auditor was unable to complete a review of the interim financial report and the reasons why the auditor was unable to complete the review.

(c) If an auditor has performed a review of the interim financial report required to be filed under subsection (1) and the auditor has expressed a reservation of -16- opinion in the auditor’s interim review report, the interim financial report must be accompanied by a written review report from the auditor.

(4) SEC Issuer – Restatement of an Interim Financial Report If an SEC issuer that is a reporting issuer

(a) has filed an interim financial report prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP applicable to publicly accountable enterprises for one or more interim periods since its most recently completed financial year for which annual financial statements have been filed; and

(b) prepares its annual financial statements or an interim financial report for the period immediately following the periods referred to in paragraph (a) in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the SEC issuer must

(c) restate the interim financial report for the periods referred to in paragraph (a) in accordance with U.S. GAAP; and

(d) file the restated interim financial report referred to in paragraph (c) by the filing deadline for the financial statements referred to in paragraph (b).

An interim financial report required to be filed under subsection 4.3(1) must be filed

(a) in the case of a reporting issuer other than a venture issuer, on or before the earlier of

(i) the 45th day after the end of the interim period; and

(ii) the date of filing, in a foreign jurisdiction, an interim financial report for a period ending on the last day of the interim period; or

(b) in the case of a venture issuer, on or before the earlier of

(i) the 60th day after the end of the interim period; and

(ii) the date of filing, in a foreign jurisdiction, an interim financial report for a period ending on the last day of the interim period.

(1) The annual financial statements a reporting issuer is required to file under section 4.1 must be approved by the board of directors before the statements are filed.

(2) The interim financial report a reporting issuer is required to file under section 4.3 must be approved by the board of directors before the report is filed.

(3) In fulfilling the requirement in subsection (2), the board of directors may delegate the approval of the interim financial report to the audit committee of the board of directors.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a reporting issuer must send annually a request form to the registered holders and beneficial owners of its securities, other than debt instruments, that the registered holders and beneficial owners may use to request any of the following:

(a) a paper copy of the reporting issuer’s annual financial statements and MD&A for the annual financial statements;

(b) a copy of the reporting issuer’s interim financial reports and MD&A for the interim financial reports.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the reporting issuer must, applying the procedures set out in NI 54-101, send the request form to the beneficial owners of its securities who are identified under that Instrument as having chosen to receive all securityholder materials sent to beneficial owners of securities.

(3) If a registered holder or beneficial owner of securities, other than debt instruments, of a reporting issuer requests the issuer’s annual financial statements or interim financial reports, the reporting issuer must send a copy of the requested financial statements to the person or company that made the request, without charge, by the later of,

(a) in the case of a reporting issuer other than a venture issuer, 10 calendar days after the filing deadline in subparagraph 4.2(a)(i) or 4.4(a)(i), section 4.7, or subsection 4.10(2), as applicable, for the financial statements requested;

(b) in the case of a venture issuer, 10 calendar days after the filing deadline in paragraph 4.2(b)(i) or 4.4(b)(i), section 4.7, or subsection 4.10(2), as applicable, for the financial statements requested; and

(c) 10 calendar days after the issuer receives the request.

(4) A reporting issuer is not required to send copies of annual financial statements or interim financial reports under subsection (3) that were filed more than one year before the issuer receives the request.

(5) Subsection (1) and the requirement to send annual financial statements under subsection (3) do not apply to a reporting issuer that sends its annual financial statements to its securityholders, other than holders of debt instruments, within 140 days of the issuer’s financial year-end and in accordance with NI 54-101.

(6) If a reporting issuer sends financial statements under this section, the reporting issuer must also send, at the same time, the annual or interim MD&A relating to the financial statements.

(1) Despite any provisions of this Part other than subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section, the first annual financial statements and interim financial reports that a reporting issuer must file under sections 4.1 and 4.3 are the financial statements for the financial year and interim periods immediately following the periods for which financial statements of the issuer were included in a document filed

(a) that resulted in the issuer becoming a reporting issuer; or

(b) in respect of a transaction that resulted in the issuer becoming a reporting issuer.

(2) If, under subsection (1), a reporting issuer is required to file annual financial statements for a financial year that ended before the issuer became a reporting issuer, those annual financial statements must be filed on or before the later of

(a) the 20th day after the issuer became a reporting issuer; and

(b) the filing deadline in section 4.2.

(3) If, under subsection (1), a reporting issuer is required to file an interim financial report for an interim period that ended before the issuer became a reporting issuer, that interim financial report must be filed on or before the later of

(a) the 10th day after the issuer became a reporting issuer; and

(b) the filing deadline in section 4.4.

(4) A reporting issuer is not required to provide comparative interim financial information for periods that ended before the issuer became a reporting issuer if

(a) to a reasonable person it is impracticable to present prior-period information on a basis consistent with subsection 4.3(2);

(b) the prior-period information that is available is presented; and

(c) the notes to the interim financial report disclose the fact that the prior-period information has not been prepared on a basis consistent with the most recent interim financial information.

(1) Exemption from Change in Year-End Requirements – An SEC issuer satisfies this section if

(a) it complies with the requirements of U.S. laws relating to a change of fiscal year; and

(b) it files a copy of all materials required by U.S. laws relating to a change of fiscal year at the same time as, or as soon as practicable after, they are filed with or furnished to the SEC and, in the case of financial statements, no later than the filing deadlines prescribed under sections 4.2 and 4.4.

(2) Notice of Change – If a reporting issuer decides to change its financial year-end by more than 14 days, it must file a notice containing the information set out in subsection (3) as soon as practicable, and, in any event, not later than the earlier of

(a) the filing deadline, based on the reporting issuer’s old financial year-end, for the next financial statements required to be filed, either annual or interim, whichever comes first; and

(b) the filing deadline, based on the reporting issuer’s new financial year-end, for the next financial statements required to be filed, either annual or interim, whichever comes first.

(3) The notice referred to in subsection (2) must state

(a) that the reporting issuer has decided to change its year-end;

(b) the reason for the change;

(c) the reporting issuer’s old financial year-end;

(d) the reporting issuer’s new financial year-end;

(e) the length and ending date of the periods, including the comparative periods, of each interim financial report and the annual financial statements to be filed for the reporting issuer’s transition year and its new financial year; and

(f) the filing deadlines, prescribed under sections 4.2 and 4.4, for the annual financial statements and interim financial reports for the reporting issuer’s transition year.

(4) Maximum Length of Transition Year – For the purposes of this section,

(a) a transition year must not exceed 15 months; and

(b) the first interim period after an old financial year must not exceed four months.

(5) Interim Period Ends Within One Month of Year-End – Despite subsection 4.3(1), a reporting issuer is not required to file an interim financial report for any period in its transition year that ends not more than one month

(a) after the last day of its old financial year; or

(b) before the first day of its new financial year.

(6) Comparative Financial Information in Annual Financial Statements for New Financial Year – If a transition year is less than nine months in length, the reporting issuer must include as comparative financial information to its annual financial statements for its new financial year

(a) a statement of financial position, a statement of comprehensive income, a statement of changes in equity, a statement of cash flows, and notes to the financial statements for its transition year;

(b) a statement of financial position, a statement of comprehensive income, a statement of changes in equity, a statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements for its old financial year;

(c) in the following circumstances, a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the old financial year:

(i) the reporting issuer discloses in its annual financial statements an unreserved statement of compliance with IFRS, and

(ii) the reporting issuer

(A) applies an accounting policy retrospectively in its annual financial statements,

(B) makes a retrospective restatement of items in its annual financial statements, or

(C) reclassifies items in its annual financial statements; and

(d) in the case of the reporting issuer’s first IFRS financial statements, the opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRS.

(7) Comparative Financial Information in each Interim Financial Report if Interim Periods Not Changed in Transition Year – If interim periods for the reporting issuer’s transition year end three, six, nine or twelve months after the end of its old financial year, the reporting issuer must include

(a) as comparative financial information in each interim financial report during its transition year, the comparative financial information required by subsection 4.3(2), except if an interim period during the transition year is 12 months in length and the reporting issuer’s transition year is longer than 13 months, the comparative financial information must be the statement of financial position, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the 12 month period that constitutes its old financial year;

(b) as comparative financial information in each interim financial report during its new financial year

(i) a statement of financial position as at the end of its transition year; and

(ii) the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the periods in its transition year or old financial year, for the same calendar months as, or as close as possible to, the calendar months in the interim period in the new financial year;

(c) in the following circumstances, a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the earliest comparative period:

(i) the reporting issuer that discloses in its interim financial report an unreserved statement of compliance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting, and

(ii) the reporting issuer

(A) applies an accounting policy retrospectively in its interim financial report,

(B) makes a retrospective restatement of items in its interim financial report, or

(C) reclassifies items in its interim financial report; and

(d) in the case of the reporting issuer’s first interim financial report required to be filed in the year of adopting IFRS, the opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRS.

(8) Comparative Financial Information in Interim Financial Reports if Interim Periods Changed in Transition Year – If interim periods for a reporting issuer’s transition year end twelve, nine, six or three months before the end of the transition year, the reporting issuer must include

(a) as comparative financial information in each interim financial report during its transition year

(i) a statement of financial position as at the end of its old financial year; and

(ii) the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for periods in its old financial year, for the same calendar months as, or as close as possible to, the calendar months in the interim period in the transition year;

(b) as comparative financial information in each interim financial report during its new financial year

(i) a statement of financial position as at the end of its transition year; and

(ii) the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows in its transition year or old financial year, or both, as appropriate, for the same calendar months as, or as close as possible to, the calendar months in the interim period in the new financial year;

(c) in the following circumstances, a statement of financial position as at the beginning of the earliest comparative period:

(i) the reporting issuer discloses in its interim financial report an unreserved statement of compliance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting, and

(ii) the reporting issuer

(A) applies an accounting policy retrospectively in its interim financial report,

(B) makes a retrospective restatement of items in its interim financial report, or

(C) reclassifies items in its interim financial report; and

(d) in the case of the reporting issuer’s first interim financial report required to be filed in the year of adopting IFRS, the opening IFRS statement of financial position at the date of transition to IFRS.

If an issuer is party to a transaction that resulted in,

(a) the issuer becoming a reporting issuer other than by filing a prospectus; or

(b) if the issuer was already a reporting issuer, in

(i) the issuer ceasing to be a reporting issuer,

(ii) a change in the reporting issuer’s financial year end, or

(iii) a change in the name of the reporting issuer; the issuer must, as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than the deadline for the first filing required under this Instrument following the transaction, file a notice stating

(c) the names of the parties to the transaction;

(d) a description of the transaction;

(e) the effective date of the transaction;

(f) the name of each party, if any, that ceased to be a reporting issuer after the transaction and of each continuing entity;

(g) the date of the reporting issuer’s first financial year-end after the transaction if paragraph (a) or subparagraph (b)(ii) applies;

(h) the periods, including the comparative periods, if any, of the interim financial reports and the annual financial statements required to be filed for the reporting issuer’s first financial year after the transaction, if paragraph (a) or subparagraph (b)(ii) applies; and

(i) what documents were filed under this Instrument that described the transaction and where those documents can be found in electronic format, if paragraph (a) or subparagraph (b)(ii) applies.

(1) Change in Year End – If a reporting issuer must comply with section 4.9 because it was a party to a reverse takeover, the reporting issuer must comply with section 4.8 unless

(a) the reporting issuer had the same year-end as the reverse takeover acquirer before the transaction; or

(b) the reporting issuer changes its year-end to be the same as that of the reverse takeover acquirer.

(2) Financial Statements of the Reverse Takeover Acquirer for Periods Ending Before a Reverse Takeover – If a reporting issuer completes a reverse takeover, it must

(a) file the following financial statements for the reverse takeover acquirer, unless the financial statements have already been filed:

(i) financial statements for all annual and interim periods ending before the date of the reverse takeover and after the date of the financial statements included in an information circular or similar document, or under Item 5.2 of the Form 51-102F3 Material Change Report, prepared in connection with the transaction; or

(ii) if the reporting issuer did not file a document referred to in subparagraph (i), or the document does not include the financial statements for the reverse takeover acquirer that would be required to be included in a prospectus, the financial statements prescribed under securities legislation and described in the form of prospectus that the reverse takeover acquirer was eligible to use prior to the reverse takeover for a distribution of securities in the jurisdiction;

(b) file the annual financial statements required by paragraph (a) on or before the later of

(i) the 20th day after the date of the reverse takeover;

(ii) the 90th date after the end of the financial year; and

(iii) the 120th day after the end of the financial year if the reporting issuer is a venture issuer; and

(c) file each interim financial report required by paragraph (a) on or before the later of

(i) the 10th day after the date of the reverse takeover;

(ii) the 45th day after the end of the interim period;

(iii) the 60th day after the end of the interim period if the reporting issuer is a venture issuer; and

(iv) the filing deadline in paragraph (b).

(3) Comparative Financial Information in each Interim Financial Report after a Reverse Takeover – A reporting issuer is not required to provide comparative interim financial information for the reverse takeover acquirer for periods that ended before the date of a reverse takeover if

(a) to a reasonable person it is impracticable to present prior-period information on a basis consistent with subsection 4.3(2);

(b) the prior-period information that is available is presented; and

(c) the notes to the interim financial report disclose the fact that the prior-period information has not been prepared on a basis consistent with the most recent interim financial information.

(1) Definitions – In this section

“appointment” means, in relation to a reporting issuer, the earlier of

(a) the appointment as its auditor of a different person or company than its predecessor auditor; and

(b) the decision by the board of directors of the reporting issuer to propose to holders of qualified securities to appoint as its auditor a different person or company than its predecessor auditor;

“consultation” means advice provided by a successor auditor, whether or not in writing, to a reporting issuer during the relevant period, which the successor auditor concluded was an important factor considered by the reporting issuer in reaching a decision concerning

(a) the application of accounting principles or policies to a transaction, whether or not the transaction is completed;

(b) a report provided by an auditor on the reporting issuer’s financial statements;

(c) scope or procedure of an audit or review engagement; or

(d) financial statement disclosure;

“disagreement” means a difference of opinion between personnel of a reporting issuer responsible for finalizing the reporting issuer’s financial statements and the personnel of a predecessor auditor responsible for authorizing the issuance of audit reports on the reporting issuer’s financial statements or authorizing the communication of the results of the auditor’s review of the reporting issuer’s interim financial report, if the difference of opinion

(a) resulted in a modified opinion in the predecessor auditor’s audit report on the reporting issuer’s financial statements for any period during the relevant period;

(b) would have resulted in a modified opinion in the predecessor auditor’s audit report on the reporting issuer’s financial statements for any period during the relevant period if the difference of opinion had not been resolved to the predecessor auditor’s satisfaction, not including a difference of opinion based on incomplete or preliminary information that was resolved to the satisfaction of the predecessor auditor upon the receipt of further information;

(c) resulted in a qualified or adverse communication or denial of assurance in respect of the predecessor auditor’s review of the reporting issuer’s interim financial report for any interim period during the relevant period; or

(d) would have resulted in a qualified or adverse communication or denial of assurance in respect of the predecessor auditor’s review of the reporting issuer’s interim financial report for any interim period during the relevant period if the difference of opinion had not been resolved to the predecessor auditor’s satisfaction, not including a difference of opinion based on incomplete or preliminary information that was resolved to the satisfaction of the predecessor auditor upon the receipt of further information;

“predecessor auditor” means the auditor of a reporting issuer that is the subject of the most recent termination or resignation;

“qualified securities” means securities of a reporting issuer that carry the right to participate in voting on the appointment or removal of the reporting issuer’s auditor; “relevant information circular” means

(a) if a reporting issuer’s constating documents or applicable law require holders of qualified securities to take action to remove the reporting issuer’s auditor or to appoint a successor auditor

(i) the information circular required to accompany or form part of every notice of meeting at which that action is proposed to be taken; or

(ii) the disclosure document accompanying the text of the written resolution provided to holders of qualified securities; or

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply, the information circular required to accompany or form part of the first notice of meeting to be sent to holders of qualified securities following the preparation of a reporting package concerning a termination or resignation;

“relevant period” means the period

(a) commencing at the beginning of the reporting issuer’s two most recently completed financial years and ending on the date of termination or resignation; or

(b) during which the predecessor auditor was the reporting issuer’s auditor, if the predecessor auditor was not the reporting issuer’s auditor throughout the period described in paragraph (a);

“reportable event” means a disagreement, a consultation, or an unresolved issue;

“reporting package” means

(a) the documents referred to in subparagraphs (5)(a)(i) and (6)(a)(i);

(b) the letter referred to in clause (5)(a)(ii)(B), if received by the reporting issuer, unless an updated letter referred to in clause (6)(a)(iii)(B) has been received by the reporting issuer;

(c) the letter referred to in clause (6)(a)(ii)(B), if received by the reporting issuer; and

(d) any updated letter referred to in clause (6)(a)(iii)(B) received by the reporting issuer;

“resignation” means notification from an auditor to a reporting issuer of the auditor’s decision to resign or decline to stand for reappointment;

“successor auditor” means the person or company

(a) appointed;

(b) that the board of directors have proposed to holders of qualified securities be appointed; or

(c) that the board of directors have decided to propose to holders of qualified securities be appointed,

as the reporting issuer’s auditor after the termination or resignation of the reporting issuer’s predecessor auditor;

“termination” means, in relation to a reporting issuer, the earlier of

(a) the removal of its auditor before the expiry of the auditor’s term of appointment, the expiry of its auditor’s term of appointment without reappointment, or the appointment of a different person or company as its auditor upon expiry of its auditor’s term of appointment; and

(b) the decision by the board of directors of the reporting issuer to propose to holders of its qualified securities that its auditor be removed before, or that a different person or company be appointed as its auditor upon, the expiry of its auditor’s term of appointment;

“unresolved issue” means any matter that, in the predecessor auditor’s opinion, has, or could have, a material impact on the financial statements, or reports provided by the auditor relating to the financial statements, for any financial period during the relevant period, and about which the predecessor auditor has advised the reporting issuer if

(a) the predecessor auditor was unable to reach a conclusion as to the matter’s implications before the date of termination or resignation;

(b) the matter was not resolved to the predecessor auditor’s satisfaction before the date of termination or resignation; or

(c) the predecessor auditor is no longer willing to be associated with any of the financial statements;

(2) Meaning of “Material” – For the purposes of this section, the term “material” has a meaning consistent with the discussion of the term “materiality” in the issuer`s GAAP.

(3) Exemption from Change of Auditor Requirements – This section does not apply if

(a) the following three conditions are met:

(i) a termination, or resignation, and appointment occur in connection with an amalgamation, arrangement, takeover or similar transaction involving the reporting issuer or a reorganization of the reporting issuer;

(ii) the termination, or resignation, and appointment have been disclosed in a news release that has been filed or in a disclosure document that has been delivered to holders of qualified securities and filed; and

(iii) no reportable event has occurred;

(b) the change of auditor is required by the legislation under which the reporting issuer exists or carries on its activities; or

(c) the change of auditor arises from an amalgamation, merger or other reorganization of the auditor.

(4) Exemption From Change of Auditor Requirements – SEC Issuers – An SEC issuer satisfies this section if it

(a) complies with the requirements of U.S. laws relating to a change of auditor;

(b) files a copy of all materials required by U.S. laws relating to a change of auditor at the same time as, or as soon as practicable after, they are filed with or furnished to the SEC;

(c) issues and files a news release describing the information disclosed in the materials referred to in paragraph (b), if there are any reportable events; and

(d) includes the materials referred to in paragraph (b) with each relevant information circular.

(5) Requirements Upon Auditor Termination or Resignation – Upon a termination or resignation of its auditor, a reporting issuer must

(a) within 3 days after the date of termination or resignation

(i) prepare a change of auditor notice in accordance with subsection (7) and deliver a copy of it to the predecessor auditor; and

(ii) request the predecessor auditor to

(A) review the reporting issuer’s change of auditor notice;

(B) prepare a letter, addressed to the regulator or securities regulatory authority, stating, for each statement in the change of auditor notice, whether the auditor (I) agrees, (II) disagrees, and the reasons why, or (III) has no basis to agree or disagree; and

(C) deliver the letter to the reporting issuer within 7 days after the date of termination or resignation;

(b) within 14 days after the date of termination or resignation

(i) have the audit committee of its board of directors or its board of directors review the letter referred to in clause (5)(a)(ii)(B) if received by the reporting issuer, and approve the change of auditor notice;

(ii) file a copy of the reporting package with the regulator or securities regulatory authority;

(iii) deliver a copy of the reporting package to the predecessor auditor;

(iv) if there are any reportable events, issue and file a news release describing the information in the reporting package; and

(c) include with each relevant information circular

(i) a copy of the reporting package as an appendix; and

(ii) a summary of the contents of the reporting package with a crossreference to the appendix.

(6) Requirements upon Auditor Appointment – Upon an appointment of a successor auditor, a reporting issuer must

(a) within 3 days after the date of appointment

(i) prepare a change of auditor notice in accordance with subsection (7) and deliver it to the successor auditor and to the predecessor auditor;

(ii) request the successor auditor to

(A) review the reporting issuer’s change of auditor notice;

(B) prepare a letter addressed to the regulator or securities regulatory authority, stating, for each statement in the change of auditor notice, whether the auditor

(I) agrees,

(II) disagrees, and the reasons why, or

(III) has no basis to agree or disagree; and

(C) deliver that letter to the reporting issuer within 7 days after the date of appointment; and

(iii) request the predecessor auditor to, within 7 days after the date of appointment,

(A) confirm that the letter referred to in clause (5)(a)(ii)(B) does not have to be updated; or

(B) prepare and deliver to the reporting issuer an updated letter to replace the letter referred to in clause (5)(a)(ii)(B);

(b) within 14 days after the date of appointment,

(i) have the audit committee of its board of directors or its board of directors review the letters referred to in clauses (6)(a)(ii)(B) and (6)(a)(iii)(B) if received by the reporting issuer, and approve the change of auditor notice;

(ii) file a copy of the reporting package with the regulator or securities regulatory authority;

(iii) deliver a copy of the reporting package to the successor auditor and to the predecessor auditor; and

(iv) if there are any reportable events, issue and file a news release disclosing the appointment of the successor auditor and describing the information in the reporting package or referring to the news release required under subparagraph (5)(b)(iv).

(7) Change of Auditor Notice Content – A change of auditor notice must state

(a) the date of termination or resignation;

(b) whether the predecessor auditor

(i) resigned on the predecessor auditor’s own initiative or at the reporting issuer’s request;

(ii) was removed or is proposed to holders of qualified securities to be removed during the predecessor auditor’s term of appointment; or

(iii) was not reappointed or has not been proposed for reappointment;

(c) whether the termination or resignation of the predecessor auditor and any appointment of the successor auditor were considered or approved by the audit committee of the reporting issuer’s board of directors or the reporting issuer’s board of directors;

(d) whether the predecessor auditor’s report on any of the reporting issuer’s financial statements relating to the relevant period expressed a modified opinion and, if so, a description of each modification;

(e) if there is a reportable event, the following information:

(i) for a disagreement,

(A) a description of the disagreement;

(B) whether the audit committee of the reporting issuer’s board of directors or the reporting issuer’s board of directors discussed the disagreement with the predecessor auditor; and

(C) whether the reporting issuer authorized the predecessor auditor to respond fully to inquiries by any successor auditor concerning the disagreement and, if not, a description of and reasons for any limitation;

(ii) for a consultation,

(A) a description of the issue that was the subject of the consultation;

(B) a summary of the successor auditor’s oral advice, if any, provided to the reporting issuer concerning the issue;

(C) a copy of the successor auditor’s written advice, if any, received by the reporting issuer concerning the issue; and

(D) whether the reporting issuer consulted with the predecessor auditor concerning the issue and, if so, a summary of the predecessor auditor’s advice concerning the issue; and

(iii) for an unresolved issue,

(A) a description of the issue;

(B) whether the audit committee of the reporting issuer’s board of directors or the reporting issuer’s board of directors discussed the issue with the predecessor auditor; and

(C) whether the reporting issuer authorized the predecessor auditor to respond fully to inquiries by any successor auditor concerning the issue and, if not, a description of and reasons for any limitation; and

(f) if there are no reportable events, a statement to that effect.

(8) Predecessor Auditor’s Obligations to Report Non-Compliance – If a reporting issuer does not file the reporting package required to be filed under subparagraph (5)(b)(ii) or the news release required to be filed under subparagraph (5)(b)(iv), the predecessor auditor must, within 3 days of the required filing date, advise the reporting issuer in writing of the failure and deliver a copy of the letter to the regulator or, in Quebec, the securities regulatory authority.

(9) Successor Auditor’s Obligations to Report Non-Compliance – If a reporting issuer does not file the reporting package required to be filed under subparagraph (6)(b)(ii) or the news release required to be filed under subparagraph (6)(b)(iv), the successor auditor must, within 3 days of the required filing date, advise the reporting issuer in writing of the failure and deliver a copy of the letter to the regulator or, in Quebec, the securities regulatory authority.