Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has obtained approval as a Designated Stock Exchange under the Income Tax Act of Canada. The approval was authourised by Canada’s Finance Minister Joe Oliver. A Designated Exchange provides that persons in Canada who purchase stocks on the Main JSE market will be exempt from taxes on income derived from these purchases in that country. The stocks on the JSE’s Main Market will become more attractive to Canadian Pension Fund, Investment Managers and Investors on a whole as a result of the tax exemption. If Jamaican Diaspora Bonds are listed on the JSE Main Market it will now be more attractive to the Jamaicans in Canada as they will not be required to pay income tax when trading these bond, a release from the Jamaica Stock Exchange suggest.
The JSE had to meet certain standards to have been recognized as a Designated Exchange, including adherence to rules and regulations, maintain a reasonable level of liquidity and offer a range of product on the Exchange.
“This is a significant milestone in our history, when the Canadian Government recognized the JSE as a Designated Exchange. This seeks to further solidify the relationship between Jamaica and Canada, a country which was instrumental in assisting the JSE with its first sets of Rules and the JSE’s Securities Course” Marlene Street Forrest, General Manager of the JSE, stated.