The head of Canada’s largest stock exchange today called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the possibility of adding securities trading to the North American Free Trade Agreement when he meets with U.S. President George W. Bush next month.

TSX Group CEO Richard Nesbitt told the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Ottawa that the two leaders should “kick-start” further discussions between regulators in Canada and the United States.

In a speech, Nesbitt proposed a single North American securities market in which the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq market and other U.S. stock exchanges could compete in Canada under U.S. rules and the TSX Group’s exchanges could compete in the U.S. under Canadian rules.

“Such an arrangement should also include provisions that allow for a greater sharing of enforcement information and for rationalizing so that both American and Canadian enforcement officials can use their resources more effectively,” Nesbitt said.

“The purpose of such provisions is to eliminate the border as a hiding place for the rascals that dwell on the fringes of the business in both countries.”

Harper and Bush are to meet in Washington on July 6.

The TSX Group operates Canada’s main stock markets – the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange – as well as the Natural Gas Exchange, which trades natural gas and electricity contracts.