Canada is home to more than 40% of the world’s publicly listed mining companies, according to TMX Group — the operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). That means if you invest in mining stocks, a significant portion of the companies you follow are likely listed in Canada and filing their regulatory documents into a single, free, publicly accessible database called SEDAR+.
SEDAR+ is one of the most valuable research tools available to mining investors anywhere in the world. Yet most retail investors — even experienced ones — have never opened it. This guide explains what it is, what it contains, and how to use it effectively.
What is SEDAR+?
SEDAR+ is Canada’s national public securities filing and disclosure system. It is operated by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) — the umbrella body overseeing Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators — and is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at sedarplus.ca.
The name stands for System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval — plus, with the “+” signifying an upgraded, modernized version of the original SEDAR system that was Canada’s primary filing platform for decades. SEDAR+ consolidates multiple regulatory databases into a single platform with improved search functionality and a more modern interface.
Every public company listed on a Canadian exchange — TSX, TSXV, CSE (Canadian Securities Exchange), or NEO Exchange — is legally required to file its regulatory documents through SEDAR+. This includes both Canadian-headquartered companies and foreign companies listed in Canada. The filings are publicly accessible to anyone.
What Can You Find on SEDAR+?
For a mining investor, SEDAR+ is the authoritative source for several critical document types:
- NI 43-101 Technical Reports — the most important document for any mining investor. Technical reports contain full resource and reserve estimates, geological data, exploration history, and engineering studies. These are filed under Regulatory Documents > Technical Report in a company’s profile.
- Annual Information Form (AIF) — a comprehensive annual overview of the company’s business, properties, risk factors, and management. Think of it as the Canadian equivalent of a US 10-K but focused on company description rather than audited financials.
- Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) — management’s own commentary on financial results, project progress, and outlook, filed quarterly and annually alongside financial statements.
- Financial Statements — audited annual and reviewed quarterly financial statements. These show the company’s cash position, spending rate — known as the burn rate for exploration companies — debt, and overall financial health.
- Material Change Reports — filed when something significant happens that could affect the company’s value, such as a major discovery, acquisition, or financing. These are time-sensitive and often filed the same day as a major press release.
- Management Proxy Materials — notice of annual general meeting, proxy circular detailing how management and the board are paid, and information on shareholder votes.
- Press Releases — companies file all public press releases through SEDAR+ in addition to distributing them through wire services.
- Early Warning Reports — filed when an investor acquires more than 10% of a company’s outstanding shares, alerting the market to significant ownership changes.
How to Use SEDAR+
Navigating SEDAR+ is straightforward once you know what you are looking for. Here is a step-by-step approach:
- Go to sedarplus.ca and use the search bar to find a company by name or ticker symbol. Select the correct entity from the search results.
- Once on the company’s profile page, you will see a list of all their filings organized by category and date.
- For NI 43-101 Technical Reports specifically, filter by Regulatory Documents and then Technical Report. These are often large PDF files — the full technical data behind any resource estimate the company has announced.
- For financial health, filter by Annual Financial Statements or Interim Financial Statements. For exploration companies, check the cash and equivalents line against the quarterly burn rate to estimate how long the company can fund operations without raising more money.
- For the most recent material developments, filter by Material Change Reports and News Releases sorted by most recent date.
Why SEDAR+ Matters for Mining Investors
The mining industry has a long history of companies making bold claims in press releases that are not always backed by the level of evidence the headline implies. SEDAR+ gives every investor direct access to the underlying technical documents — the full NI 43-101 report behind a resource estimate, the actual financial statements behind a cash position claim, the actual geological data behind a drill result announcement.
Reading the source document is almost always more informative than reading the press release. A press release highlights what management wants you to know. The NI 43-101 technical report contains everything the Qualified Person determined was material — including the caveats, the data limitations, the uncertainty ranges, and the assumptions behind the numbers.
Before making any investment decision based on a Canadian mining company’s announcement, the SEDAR+ filing for the underlying technical report is the first place to look. It is the authoritative source — the press release is a summary.
SEDAR+ vs EDGAR — What’s the Difference?
SEDAR+ is Canada’s filing system; EDGAR is the equivalent system operated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for US-listed companies. For Canadian companies that are dual-listed on US exchanges — which is common for larger TSX miners that also trade on the NYSE or NYSE American — documents may be filed on both platforms.
A useful rule of thumb: if the company has a TSX or TSXV listing, search SEDAR+. If it has a US listing only, use EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar. If it has both, both systems will carry its filings, though the documents may be formatted differently for each regulatory jurisdiction.
SEDAR+ Also Carries Regulatory and Enforcement Information
Beyond company filings, SEDAR+ hosts the Canadian National Cease Trade Order database — listing companies whose securities are currently prohibited from trading due to regulatory action — and the Disciplined List, which identifies individuals and companies subject to disciplinary action by Canadian securities regulators. These are useful checks before investing in any unfamiliar company.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- SEDAR+ is Canada’s free public securities filing system at sedarplus.ca — open to anyone, 24/7
- All TSX, TSXV, CSE, and NEO-listed companies must file their documents here
- The most important documents for mining investors: NI 43-101 Technical Reports, Annual Information Form, Financial Statements, Material Change Reports
- Technical Reports contain the full underlying data behind any resource estimate — always read them before making decisions based on a press release
- SEDAR+ also carries cease trade orders and disciplinary information — useful for background checks on unfamiliar companies
- For US-listed mining companies, use EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar instead
SOURCES
1. SEDAR+ — Canadian Securities Administrators: https://www.securities-administrators.ca/about-sedar/
2. SEDAR+ public filing portal: https://www.sedarplus.ca
3. Ontario Securities Commission — SEDAR+ overview: https://www.osc.ca/en/industry/sedarplus
4. TMX Group — Mining on TSX and TSXV: https://www.tsx.com/en/listings/listing-with-us/sector-and-product-profiles/mining
5. York University — Public Company Filings guide for mining: https://researchguides.library.yorku.ca/c.php?g=679644&p=4793978
DISCLAIMER
This article is an educational explainer based on publicly available information. Information was current as of May 2026. The SEDAR+ system is subject to ongoing development — readers should consult sedarplus.ca for current functionality and filing categories.
Mining Markets Report has not received compensation from any company, regulatory body, or organization in connection with this article.
The information provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or professional advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence and consult a qualified professional before making any investment decision.
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