The Joint Forum was founded in 1999 by the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR), the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), and the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA). It also includes representation from the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO).

The Joint Forum is a mechanism through which pension, securities and insurance regulators co-ordinate, harmonize and streamline the regulation of financial products and services in Canada. Its goal is continuous improvement of the financial services regulatory system through greater harmonization and coordination of regulatory approaches.