Canadian securities regulators are extending a registration exemption for mortgage investment firms that was due to expire at the end of the year.

In August, the Canadian Securities Administrators issued orders providing exemptive relief from the investment fund manager registration requirement and the advisor registration requirement for mortgage investment entities, until December 31. The exemption was to give the members of the CSA time to review the applicability of these registration categories to mortgage investment firms.

In a staff notice issued Friday, the CSA is extending that exemption to give it more time to study the issue.

“While significant analysis has been completed to date, CSA members have agreed that a further extension of the relief is necessary in order to allow CSA members to complete their analysis and communicate the applicable requirements to the public with sufficient notice to allow mortgage investment entities to take the necessary steps to comply with those requirements,” the notice says.

All the CSA members, except the British Columbia Securities Commission will extend the relief until March 31, 2011.

In B.C., the extension will expire on June 30, 2011.

IE