9 Best Forex Brokers in Canada for 2023

Canada, within the global financial markets, is recognized as one of the world’s top ten economies.

Its currency, the Canadian Dollar, often referred to as the “loonie” due to the depiction of a loon on one of its coins, is among the most traded currencies in the world, closely tied to commodity prices, especially oil.

Canada’s regulatory environment for retail forex trading is stringent, aiming to ensure market integrity and protect investors. The primary regulatory body overseeing retail forex trading is the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO, former IIROC). The CIRO works diligently to set and enforce high-quality regulatory standards, ensuring that Canada maintains its reputation for financial stability and investor protection in the world of forex trading.

In this article, we have grouped some of the best forex brokers available in Canada.

In compiling this ranking, we have taken into consideration a multitude of factors, including

• The broker’s regulations
• The overall quality of the broker
• The commissions on forex trading
• The trading platforms available
• The availability of CAD accounts, deposits, and withdrawals

What are the best forex brokers in Canada?

Below is our curated list of the best forex brokers for traders living in Canada, with details and information about the country laws, the features, and the characteristics.

Canadian forex brokers comparison

Here’s a summary of which forex brokers are available in Canada along with key information about their minimum deposits, whether they are CIRO (former IIROC) regulated and any regional restrictions. As you may have noticed, every broker that is locally regulated has no problem accepting customers throughout the country (with the exception of those who are residing in Alberta), and may follow the Canadian investor protection fund we’re going to mention in the next section of the article.

On the other hand, other brokers that are not regulated by the Canadian authorities and are still allowed to operate within the country may face regional restrictions when it comes to accepting new clients.

• AB – Alberta
• BC – British Columbia
• ON – Ontario
• MB – Manitoba
• QC – Québec
• SK – Saskatchewan

Is forex trading legal in Canada?

Forex trading, in general, is legal. The forex market in Canada is regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO, former IIROC). The CIRO is the national regulator, though each region of Canada has its own local regulator which is where things can get more complicated and we will take a look at this below.

For this reason, Canadian customers can face some challenges getting accepted by brokers especially if that broker is not CIRO regulated. In fact, when a broker is not CIRO regulated, each regional regulation has the power to decide whether or not a broker should be allowed to offer its services within the area.

Is forex trading legal in Alberta?

Things get a little tricky as we mentioned, in Alberta. Forex trading is legal, but you must qualify as an “accredited investor” whether or not the broker is CIRO regulated. This is something similar to the qualification as a professional trader in Europe and you must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

• Qualify as a bank or any other financial institution
• Have a net income of at least $200,000 in the past 2 years
• Have at least $1,000,000 in your financial portfolio
• Have at least $5,000,000 invested in properties

If you can satisfy one of these criteria, then you will have no problem being classified as an accredited investor in Alberta.

How to trade forex in Canada

Things go back to normal in this respect. The steps for starting forex trading within Canada are generally the same as in another country. You should be sure to provide the following:

• Proof of identity typically in the form of your passport is best.
• Proof of residence through a utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months is usually best.

From there, you will be free to fund and trade on your fully verified account.

What should Canadian traders look for in a forex broker?

As a Canadian forex trader, there are indeed some things to watch out for that may be accepted in other countries but not Canada.

Binary options trading for example, is illegal in Canada, whereas spread betting is in fact legal for Canadian traders. Derivative products like CFDs, while they are not legal with the neighbors in the USA, are legal to trade in Canada. Cryptocurrency trading is also legal in Canada and very much enjoyed by Canadian traders.

Restrictions on leverage and other trading conditions are also somewhat lenient in Canada. Leverage can generally reach up to 50:1, and while negative balance protection is not mandatory as it is in Europe, it is still generally offered by top brokers along with the use of segregated bank accounts.

With those points noted, here are a few tips to follow when choosing your forex broker in Canada:

1. Look for forex brokers regulated in Canada

This point goes for every place, you should always be on the lookout for the best regulation. The CIRO is the national regulatory body and very trusted in Canada, so much so in fact, that brokers offering their services in every Canadian province must be regulated by them. This is a great thing to make sure you have in place to improve trust.

Additionally, CIRO brokers usually follow the Canadian Investor Protection Fund program (CIPF), meaning that in case of insolvency the trader will get refunded a certain amount of money depending on the CIPF Terms and Conditions.

2. Try to look for brokers that offer CAD currency

We all want to avoid fees as much as possible. This means trying to choose a broker that facilitates CAD deposits and base currency. It will save you on commissions and fees from both the broker and your bank. Luckily, most Canadian forex brokers already facilitate this.

3. First time trading? Look for Negative Balance Protection

Negative balance protection basically can prevent you from losing more than you have in your account. This could happen in rare cases where the market is volatile and particularly if you are new to trading. So, even though it is not mandatory in Canada, it makes sense for you to find and choose a broker that offers this protection for your own benefit. This is another great layer of protection after the investor compensation fund is already available with most Canadian brokers.

How to verify if a forex broker is regulated in Canada

One of the last steps before trading and once you have found a broker that ticks all the boxes for you, is to verify their regulation. This is simple to complete and means heading over to the CIRO (former IIROC), and checking the IIROC Register there using the company name. This name you can typically find at the bottom of your brokers’ homepage.

Is forex trading taxable in Canada?

You will have to pay capital gains tax on any profits in this respect. The typical tax on these earnings is also known to be quite high in Canada so you should expect to pay around 50%.

We are not professional tax advisors, thus we strongly suggest you contact local authorities if you don’t know how to manage this aspect.

Full list of forex brokers available in Canada