June 30, 2020 – A new online service aims to simplify the business registration process across provincial lines, making it easier for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba owners to expand interprovincially.

Until now, those provinces had separate processes and systems for corporations and limited partnerships to complete their interprovincial business registrations and maintenance filings. On June 27, 2020, the four provinces implemented the online Multi-jurisdictional Registry Access Service (MRAS), which allows corporate information-sharing between the provinces, thereby promising faster and easier interprovincial registration.

“People using this new service will find it easier to register their business in multiple provinces, and efficiently complete necessary paperwork through one central hub,” said Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Citizens’ Services. “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.”

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

MRAS is not available for limited liability partnerships and co-operatives.