	merrill lynch mer canada mulls buying broker merrill lynch canada inc wholly owned by merrill lynch and co is considering uiring another canadian securities company as the result of federal and provincial government moves to lift investment dealer ownership restrictions on june according to a published report we re talking to a number of people merrill lynch canada deputy chairman e duff scott told the toronto star whether we re going to do something i don t know he said a merrill lynch canada spokesman declined to comment on the newspaper report when queried scott did not disclose which investment dealers merrill lynch canada was considering uiring but the toronto star quoted unidentified industry sources as saying serious discussions have already been held with burns fry ltd burns fry chairman jack lawrence told the newspaper the investment dealer has not made a final decision but was examining three or four alternatives discussions between brokers about possible mergers is to be expected pending industry deregulation one investment industry source who asked not to be named told reuters it s silly not to take a look at making a merger or uisition if you re a businessman you have to take a look the industry source said under federal and provincial government regulations expected to be in place by june banks trust companies and foreign companies will be allowed to uire existing investment dealers or establish their own securities subsidiaries reuter 
