Investor protection legislation's been toughened in this province.

The Securities Amendment Act has been harmonized with similar laws in other provinces.

Portage Credit Union Certified Financial Planner Dave Foley believes this is positive legislation, because investors have more opportunity to review information, and have confidence in it. He notes it was initiated by the Investment Dealers Association, which shows they want to improve the situation themselves.

Foley feels a couple of benefits are available to individual investors -- more confidence in the information and more legal avenues are open. He adds this isn't related to recent changes to taxation of income trusts, since it's been in the works for about a year.