Hey Strato.....I also contacted my broker, CIBC EDGE for clarification yesterday.....their reply is below. I am not on margin so appear to be protected from shorts. However your reply from TD sent chills up my spine. Like: "your shares can't be shorted under any conditions", and followed later by, "In the rare event that someone does short your position..." WTF.....it's one or the other, yes or no is the answer I'd be looking for. Also the gobbly gook definition of ownership...."We officially own the shares." you have "benificial ownership", and "you are entitled to what you purchased" and "as the shares you hold at TD waterhouse are your own, you can sell your shares at any time" Yes or no? ultimately they appear to NOT be owned by you.

Would asking(demanding) the actual stock certificates solve this issue?

.......cheers....sambone

Dear Mr Bla Bla

Please be informed that securities which are held within an Investor's
Edge cash account are not available to short-sellers. On the other hand
securities held within a margin account, however, are available to
short-seller, but any money owed to you or securities you hold in a
margin account are available to be redeemed by you on demand.

If you wish to review the policy of CIBC Investor Services Inc.
governing cash and margin accounts, please visit our website at
www.investorsedge.cibc.com, click on the "Agreements & Disclosures" link
located on the bottom of the screen, then select "View/Print CIBC
Investor Services Account Agreements and Disclosures".

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