Quebec regulator Autorité des marchés financiers says that it has begun the transition to join. the National Registration Database. The NRD is already in use in Alberta, B, and Ontario and at member firms of Investment Dealers Association of Canada.

Enrollment in the NRD will be required of any person governed by the Quebec Securities Act and the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services (group savings plan brokerage, investment contract brokerage and scholarship plan brokerage sectors) as of January 1, 2005.

Reporting issuers will be asked to enroll with the NRD during the fall and to register information regarding their representatives and officers beginning on January 1.

Intended to replace the current paper-based system, the NRD will accelerate and optimize the registration and renewal procedures, the AMF says.

The AMF says that during the coming weeks it will be contacting firms in an email bulletin to tell them what steps to take to join the NRD. Information sessions will also be held during the fall. Some companies are already enrolled with the NRD through their activities in other Canadian jurisdictions, they will receive specific instructions concerning the enrolment procedure in Quebec.