By Yug – File: Canada location map.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0

A new online service simplifies the registration process across provincial lines, making it easier for owners to grow their business.

Until now, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba had separate processes and systems for corporations and limited partnerships to complete their extraprovincial business registrations and maintenance filings. On June 27, 2020, the four provinces were the first to implement the online Multi-jurisdictional Registry Access Service (MRAS), a hub that allows corporate information sharing between the provinces, making extraprovincial registration faster and easier.

“This joint effort under the New West Partnership Agreement streamlines trade between our provinces and opens up the possibility of including other provinces and territories in the future,” said Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Citizens’ Services.

As members of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, the four western provinces committed to reconciling business registration and reporting requirements between the jurisdictions, thus simplifying extraprovincial business registration processes.

Through MRAS, other jurisdictions will eventually be able to share corporate information, thus extending the New West Partnership’s efficiencies across Canada.

Quick Facts:

• MRAS allows jurisdictions to share corporate information so corporations and limited partnerships can complete and update their extraprovincial registration online.
• MRAS also includes a national corporate registry search tool, which provides core registration information for corporations and extraprovincial corporations.
• At this time, MRAS is not available for limited liability partnerships and co-operatives. These filings will continue to be completed through the current model.