[QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Common Shares January 4, 2016 CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC Dear Sirs: 1. Introductory . Canadian Solar Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada (" Company "), agrees with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (the " Manager ") to issue and sell from time to] [QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document Barristers & Solicitors January 4, 2016 Canadian Solar Inc. Dear Sirs and Mesdames: Re: Form F-3 The facts, as we understand them, and upon which with your permission we rely in rendering the opinion herein, are set forth in the Registration Statement. In addition, in our capacity as counsel, we] [QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document January 4, 2016 Canadian Solar Inc. Re: Canadian Solar Inc. Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special United States tax counsel to Canadian Solar Inc., a Canadian company (the " Company "), in connection with the in connection with the offering (the " Offering ") of up to US$] [QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document January 4, 2016 Canadian Solar Inc. Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special People's Republic of China (" PRC ") legal counsel to Canadian Solar Inc. (the " Company ") in connection with the offering (the " Offering" ) of up to US$ 100,000,000 common shares of the Company] [FORM 6-K CANADIAN SOLAR INC. 545 Speedvale Avenue West ý Form 20-F o Form 40-F o o CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Form 6-K TABLE OF CONTENTS Incorporation by Reference 3]

[Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Secures Debt Financing for 200 MW Garland Solar Power Project GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, December 18 , 2015 With NORD/LB as the Coordinating Lead Arranger, five banks, including CIT, KeyBanc, Rabobank, and Santander will provide project-level construction debt, LC facilities and a back-leveraged term facility, totaling approximately $480 million. “With the closing of the Garland solar] [Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Partners in 200 MW Garland Solar Power Project GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, December 18, 2015 Under the terms of the agreement, Southern Power will acquire 51% of the equity in the solar generation project. Canadian Solar will retain 49% ownership and contribute its share of the investment required to complete the construction of the project, which] [FORM 6-K CANADIAN SOLAR INC. 545 Speedvale Avenue West Form 20-F x o o o CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Form 6-K TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 4]

[Canadian Solar Secures Additional $80 million Term Loan with Credit Suisse GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, December 15 “We are pleased with the positive outcome of this transaction and we appreciate the confidence of the lenders in our business,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. “The buildout of our high value solar project pipeline in the] [FORM 6-K CANADIAN SOLAR INC. 545 Speedvale Avenue West Form 20-F x o o o CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Form 6-K TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 4]

[Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Partners in 157 MW Texas Solar Project GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, November 30, 2015 Under the terms of the agreement, Southern Power will acquire 51% of the equity in the solar generation project. Canadian Solar will retain 49% ownership and contribute its share of the investment required to complete the construction of the project, which the] [Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Secures Debt Financing for 157 MW Texas Solar Project GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, November 30, 2015 With KeyBank as the Coordinating Lead Arranger, five banks, including Rabobank, Santander, NORD/LB, and CIT will provide project-level construction debt, LC facilities and a back-leveraged term facility, totaling approximately $275 million. “This top tier group of financiers’ attraction to the] [FORM 6-K CANADIAN SOLAR INC. 545 Speedvale Avenue West Form 20-F x o o o CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Form 6-K TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 4]

[Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Closes Financing for 100 Megawatt Astoria Solar Power Project GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, November 19 , 2015 Recurrent Energy will be the managing member of the Astoria solar power project and plans to own and operate the facility. Santander Bank, N.A. (Santander) was the coordinating lead arranger of a five member bank club including, NORD/LB, Rabobank,] [FORM 6-K CANADIAN SOLAR INC. 545 Speedvale Avenue West Form 20-F x o o o CANADIAN SOLAR INC. Form 6-K TABLE OF CONTENTS]