Canada - Trading or advising in futures and security options

Posted on August 17, 2009

Kenneth G. Ottenbreit and Terry Doherty

Recent rulemaking across Canada and proposed rules in Quebec (if adopted) will have a significant impact on the cross-border trading activities of non-Canadian dealers, advisers, futures commission merchants (FCMs) and commodity-trading advisers (CTAs) with respect to commodity futures contracts and commodity futures options (futures) as well as security options.

On July 17, 2009, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published their final proposal for National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements and Exemptions (31-103). Subject to governmental and other local approval requirements, 31-103 will come into force on September 28, 2009 (the Implementation Date). While the regulation of futures activities was not the focus of 31-103, the new securities registration rules will have some impact on the regulation of futures activities in Canada. For further information and a complete breakdown of the new regime, please refer to Stikeman Elliott’s Registration Reform in Canada: The Finish Line is Here.

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Amendments to the Quebec Derivatives Regulation announced - Proposed exemption for exchange-traded derivatives offered primarily outside Quebec

Posted on August 7, 2009

Alix d'Anglejan-Chatillon

Comment period open until August 31, 2009

On July 17, 2009, the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA) published their final proposal for National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements and Exemptions (31-103). Subject to governmental and other local approval requirements, 31-103 will come into force on September 28, 2009 (the Implementation Date). The adoption of 31-103 in Quebec can be expected to accelerate the further implementation of the Quebec Derivatives Act (QDA) which came into force in Quebec on February 1, 2009 and governs trading and advisory activities relating to all forms of derivatives.

On July 31, 2009, as part of this implementation process, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), Quebec's financial services regulator, published a proposed Regulation to amend the Derivatives Regulation  (the Proposed Regulation). The Proposed Regulation incorporates by reference various registration-related instruments and material provisions of 31-103 and sets out an important registration exemption for non-Quebec dealers and advisers in exchange-traded derivatives offered primarily outside Quebec provided they limit their activities to "accredited counterparties".

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Amendments to the Quebec Derivatives Regulation announced - Proposed exemption for exchange-traded derivatives offered primarily outside Quebec

Posted on August 6, 2009

Alix d'Anglejan-Chatillon 

On July 17, 2009, the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA) published their final proposal for National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements and Exemptions (31-103). Subject to governmental and other local approval requirements, 31-103 will come into force on September 28, 2009 (the Implementation Date). The adoption of 31-103 in Quebec can be expected to accelerate the further implementation of the Quebec Derivatives Act (QDA) which came into force in Quebec on February 1, 2009 and governs trading and advisory activities relating to all forms of derivatives.

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