July 28, 2026

2026–27 Annual Risk Outlook: On June 29th, the BCFSA released its 2026–27 Annual Risk Outlook, which “... looks at the key risks in B.C.’s financial services sector and outlines how the regulator will respond.”  

For builders and others engaged in real estate development marketing, the BCFSA has identified distressed developments and “Market integrity and disclosure quality,’ as key concerns. In this regard, they plan to: 

• “Heighten supervision of developments exhibiting signs of financial or project distress, particularly where deteriorating market conditions increase risks to purchasers, including compliance with cease marketing requirements, management of purchaser funds held in trust, and adherence to disclosure obligations;” and  

• “Focus on the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of disclosures provided to purchasers, particularly where market conditions increase the risk of delayed, altered, or cancelled projects.” 

In general, the BCFSA notes the rapid changes and risks occurring across the financial services sector in its Outlook. Because of this, they are moving to a more flexible regulatory approach that will allow them to quickly pivot. To accomplish this, the BCFSA will regularly reassess their “... priorities as conditions change,” and shift their “... supervisory attention to where it’s needed most.” Specifically, they note five major risk drivers, which will be tracked: 

• “Macroeconomic conditions; 
• Housing market; 
• Digital disruption; 
• Financial crime; and 
• Natural catastrophes.”