The Ontario Securities Commission has published a new Investor Guide, entitled Financial Disclosure: What you need to know, to help Ontario investors understand the sources of information available about public companies.

Investors can request a free investor education kit by calling 1-877-785-1555 or they can view the OSC's investor resources, including the new guide, on the web site at www.osc.gov.on.ca. The new guide can be found on the Required Reading page of the Investor Resources section.

The 20-page guide, designed for investors who are ready to do their own research, discusses the types of disclosure available and what they need to know about each type. It also educates investors about the roles of the various parties that prepare these communications, such as the directors and auditors of the company. It outlines what type of information must be disclosed and in what form. The guide also gives useful tips on how investors can understand and analyze the quality of the information they receive. In addition, it explains the OSC's role in enforcing disclosure laws and what can happen if a company doesn't follow the rules.

Financial Disclosure: What you need to know is available free of charge as part of the OSC's investor education kit. It is the fifth in the OSC's Guide for Investors series, which also includes An Investor's Guide to OSC Resources and Services, A Step-by Step Guide to Making a Complaint, Dealers and Advisers: With Whom are You Dealing for Your Investment Services? and Borrowing to Invest: Understanding Leverage

Investors can request a free investor education kit by calling 1-877-785-1555 or they can view the OSC's investor resources, including the new guide, on the web site at www.osc.gov.on.ca. The new guide can be found on the Required Reading page of the Investor Resources section