MANITOBA JOINS INVESTOR ED CAMPAIGN APRIL 23-27, 2001

Winnipeg April 18, 2001 - Joining provincial securities regulators from BC to Nova Scotia, Manitoba is kicking off an Investor Education campaign April 23-27, 2001 aimed at raising financial IQs and helping residents recognize and avoid securities fraud.

As part of the second annual Investor Education Week Campaign, representatives from The Manitoba Securities Commission will be writing newspaper columns, offering free presentations, and working with schools to reach out to residents of all ages and backgrounds.

"The goal of this campaign is to help investors understand their financial needs and help them develop a comprehensive strategy for meeting them," said Don Murray, Chairman of the Commission. "Stock market volatility has people looking for somewhere 'safe' to put their money. Many people are expecting the sort of double-digit returns they saw over the last decade in the stock market. Con artists know this, so they promise high returns with low risk. Investors should continually remind themselves that risk and return almost always go together."

During the week-long effort, provincial securities regulators will join a broad-based coalition of consumer groups, industry representatives and regulators to focus on youth financial literacy, ways to guard against fraud and how to prepare for retirement.

The Manitoba Securities Commission is offering two evenings of free presentations, an afternoon lunch and learn session, a youth web based investment quiz and an industry breakfast all of which focus on the theme of "Invest Time before you Invest Money."

While volumes of investment expertise are now available at the click of a mouse, provincial securities regulators remain investors' first line of defense against fraud. They investigate complaints, bring enforcement actions, register brokers and educate investors at the grass-roots level.

For more information on provincial activities contact:

Ainsley Cunningham
Education and Information Coordinator
The Manitoba Securities Commission
(204) 945-4733
aicunningh@cca.gov.mb.ca