The Ontario Business Registry and what it means for Ontario businesses
This article was originally published by The Hamilton Spectator.
Q: What is the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) and what does it mean for Ontario businesses?
A: On October 19, 2021, the Ontario Government introduced the OBR, which is an online business registry that is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to business owners of organizations that are registered, incorporated or licensed to carry on business in Ontario. The OBR provides such business owners with direct access to government services by allowing for a multitude of transactions, including incorporations, amalgamations and annual return filings, to be completed online.
The OBR can be accessed at www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry. To complete transactions, all businesses will need a Company Key, which is a confidential passcode that can be obtained through Service Ontario. The Company Key can be shared with authorized representatives, such as accountants and lawyers.
The OBR also allows members of the public to more easily access certain information about a business, such as by ordering a profile report, which contains information regarding a corporation’s directors, officers and registered head office address.
Although the OBR provides the ability for businesses to complete various transactions directly, continuing to seek professional legal and tax advice regarding many of the filings available through the OBR, including incorporations, amalgamations and dissolutions, is strongly recommended. Please feel free to contact our office if we can be of assistance.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Information made available on this website in any form is for information purposes only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. You should not rely on, or take or fail to take any action based upon this information. Never disregard professional legal advice or delay in seeking legal advice because of something you have read on this website. Ross & McBride professionals will be pleased to discuss resolutions to specific legal concerns you may have.
