The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that the B.C. Securities Commission is Canada's first provincial watchdog to impose penalties for less serious violations of investment market rules without holding a hearing. The Globe's Clare O'Hara writes that the BCSC launched a new enforcement power Wednesday that will allow it to issue a maximum penalty of $100,000 per violation for individuals, and $500,000 per violation for entities such as companies, for less serious contraventions of regulations. The individual or company will be allowed to dispute findings of violations or penalties, and the BCSC's executive director will consider their challenge. BCSC enforcement director Doug Muir says the new power, known as the "administrative penalties imposed by notice," is the first of its kind in Canada and one of several new powers given to the BCSC in 2020 through amendments to the province's Securities Act. "We are grateful to have this tool because up until now there has been this gap where some of the misconduct warrants something more than a lighter touch but doesn't justify a full-blown investigation and hearing," Mr. Muir told The Globe. The BCSC hopes the new powers will also help it collect unpaid fines.