The Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc., Canada’s new stock market for emerging companies, has received orders from the securities commissions of Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Saskatchewan effectively making CNQ-quoted issuers “qualifying issuers” under Multilateral Instrument 45-102 effective immediately.

A similar application is pending with the Quebec Securities Commission.

The impact of the order is that CNQ issuers who otherwise meet the requirements of MI 45-102, including having a current Annual Information Form filed, will be eligible for a four-month hold period on prospectus-exempt offerings of securities. Currently, such offerings by CNQ issuers are subject to a 12-month hold period.

CNQ made the application to facilitate capital raising by CNQ issuers. “We received many comments from issuers that a four month hold period is essential to raising capital and we committed to deliver it to them,” said Robert Cook, president of CNQ, in a news release.

“This development dovetails nicely with CNQ’s application to become a full fledged exchange,” said Ian Bandeen, chairman of CNQ. “When combined with our previously announced expansion to allow direct participation from Alberta, B.C. and Quebec reporting issuers, the practical effect is that the significant benefits of attaining exchange designation have already been achieved.”

CNQ made application for the orders following consultation with the Ontario Securities Commission, which is the regulator of CNQ. The Alberta Securities Commission was the lead regulator on the application as the OSC does not have the statutory authority to grant an order giving blanket relief. CNQ will assist issuers who wish to make application to the OSC for similar relief on an individual basis.