Articles of Incorporation are a legal document submitted to the Provincial, Territorial or Federal Government of Canada that establishes a business within the country. This formation of a business structure is a separate entity from the persons who own the company. The federal incorporation of for-profit companies is governed by Corporations Canada under the Canadian Business Companies Act. All Canadian provinces and territories also have laws that allow (and govern) the formation of companies within their area of jurisdiction.
Often, the decision to incorporate at the federal or provincial level will be based on many business considerations, such as the scope of the business and the desire to apply particular rules that may be available under one corporate statute but not under another. For example, in Ontario, you file a Form 3 Amendment Articles Company Act with Service Ontario. When applying for federal incorporation, the required forms are available for access in Corporations Canada. To file statutes, although it can be done in person, it is strongly recommended that it be completed by an experienced attorney or accountant who is familiar with the process to ensure that no requirements are omitted.
If you're looking for all the information you need to know about articles of incorporation and how to incorporate your business without any hassle, you've come to the right place. The federal constitution allows your company to operate anywhere in Canada and can give you more recognition if you intend to do business internationally. Articles of Incorporation in Canada are a legal document required for the incorporation process and are filed with a provincial or territorial government or the federal government. In most Canadian jurisdictions, articles of incorporation act as the charter that establishes your business and sets out basic information about it.
Articles of Incorporation are legal documents submitted to Canada's provincial, territorial or federal governments that are necessary to establish your business as a legal entity; they also help establish the purpose and regulations of your corporation. Current laws (such as the Canadian Business Companies Act) generally provide for formation by statute, but Prince Edward Island still retains the patent procedure for charters and Nova Scotia provides for incorporation by memorandum of association. Corporations Canada is the branch of Industry Canada that administers the Canadian Business Companies Act (CBCA) and the office where all filings, such as articles of incorporation, are made. Bylaws may provide for different classes of actions (which may entail the right to elect separate directors).
Shareholders must elect directors at each annual meeting and, when the articles remain silent, the directors remain in office until the annual meeting following their election. If you're interested in creating and submitting articles of incorporation to incorporate your business, you don't need to start from scratch. From searching for a company name to receiving its Articles of Association by email in one business day, you'll have your business up and running in no time. It is important to note that articles of incorporation may contain additional provisions; however, this depends on the jurisdiction for which you choose to be constituted, as filing requirements vary for each.
