CNQ says that Union Securities Ltd. is joining the exchange as a participating dealer.

The announcement, which was made after markets closed on Tuesday, increases the number of dealers with direct access to the market to 18, with 19 other dealers participating indirectly.

Based in Vancouver, Union Securities is a full service investment dealer with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Thunder Bay, Oakville, Timmins, Kitchener, Brampton, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and Kelowna.

CNQ says its participating dealers now include: BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Byron Securities Ltd., Canaccord Capital Corp., First Associates Investments Inc., Global Securities Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., e3m Investments Inc., Jones, Gable & Company Ltd., Leede Financial Markets Inc., Northern Securities Inc., Octagon Capital Corp., Pacific International Securities Inc., Research Capital Corp., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc. Union Securities Ltd., Wolverton Securities Ltd., and W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd.

CNQ commenced operations in July 2003 and became recognized by the Ontario Securities Commission as a full-fledged stock exchange in May 2004.