You don't understand how this market works.

The market maker gets his signals from the price on the Canadian side. That is what establishes his bid or ask price. Sometimes, not too often, the marketmaker will let someone buy shares offered for sale at less than the ask. Most times he will take them for himself. Obviously someone has to hit the bid price in order to sell just as you have to hit the ask price in order to buy. The difference between bid and ask is the market makers profit along with commisions percentages.

This is not like the higher volume AMEX where the market maker facilitates the trades and is only occasionally involved. Here, because of the lower volume, the market maker is the other side of the trade in most circumstances on both the buy and sell side.

I could be wrong on this; as this is based on observation not specific knowledge. Even if I am incorrect to a certain extent, visualizing the situation this way will help you understand why trades occur the way they do and why you don't get filled when you think you should.

You are not trading with other buyers and sellers; you are trading with the market maker.

P.