Federal Not-For-Profit Incorporation - Canada Corporations Act / Part II

To Whom Does This Apply?

Summary

Federal incorporation may be granted to any group of individuals wishing to form a not-for-profit organization in Canada. However, the applicant group must consist of at least three individuals – not corporations – each of whom must be at least 18 years of age. In addition, although the applicants themselves need not become members of the corporation, there must be a minimum of three corporation members who are willing and able to become part of the new corporation's first board of directors.

In situations where an already-existing provincially-incorporated not-for-profit organization wishes to move to the federal jurisdiction, it is important to note that the only available avenue is the creation of a new corporation.

The following documents must be submitted to Corporations Canada in order to obtain Letters Patent of Incorporation under the Canada Corporations Act - Part II:

• an application for Letters Patent;
• an affidavit or statutory declaration;
• one copy of the proposed bylaws;
• a NUANS® name search report not more than 90 days old (these reports are available for a fee from a private search house or from Corporations Canada - there is a fee of $15 per search and bilingual names require two searches);
• $200 filing fee payable to the Receiver General for Canada;
• a covering letter stating the street address of the corporation's head office.

These documents can be sent to Corporations Canada by mail, fax or in person (see National contact).

An information kit containing sample documents and model bylaws is available from all Corporations Canada offices as well as on the Corporations Canada Web site.

Not-for-profit corporations meeting the criteria specified by the Canada Revenue Agency may register as charitable corporations, which will enable them to issue tax receipts for contributions. Information and application forms are available from:

Client Assistance Section
Charities Directorate
Canada Revenue Agency
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0L8
Telephone: (613) 954-0410 (English) / (613) 954-6215 (bilingual)
Fax: (613) 954-8037
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-2384
Toll-free (publications): 1-800-959-2221 (Forms and Publications)
Web site: http://www.cra.gc.ca/menu-e.html

Additional information

If you require additional information on incorporating not-for-profit organizations or on any of the products and services offered by Corporations Canada, please visit the Web site or contact them by phone or e-mail.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Alberta Contact(s):
The Business Link Business Service Centre
Suite 100
10237 - 104 Street N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 1B1
Telephone: 780-422-7722
Fax: 780-422-0055
Toll-free (information): 1-800-272-9675
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: buslink@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/alberta
Hours of operation: Monday - Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

British Columbia Contact(s):
Small Business BC
601 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, British Columbia  V6B 2G1
Telephone: (604) 775-5525
Fax: (604) 775-5520
Toll-free (information): 1-800-667-2272 (B.C. Region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 711 (long distance charges accepted)
E-mail: comments@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/

Manitoba Contact(s):
Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
250 - 240 Graham Ave
P.O. Box 2609
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3C 4B3
Canada
Telephone: 204-984-2272
Fax: 204-983-3852
Toll-free (information): 1-800-665-2019
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: manitoba@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/manitoba
Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre
Ground Floor, Barker House
570 Queen Street
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 6Z6
Telephone: 506-444-6140
Fax: 506-444-6172
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cbscnb@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nb
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday - except Government holidays

Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre
90 O'Leary Avenue
P.O. Box 8687
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1B 3T1
Telephone: (709) 772-6022
Fax: (709) 772-6090
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in the Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: info@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nl
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday

Northwest Territories Contact(s):
Canada/NWT Business Service Centre
8th Floor
701, 5201 - 50th Avenue
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories  X1A 3S9
Telephone: 867-873-7960
Fax: 867-873-0573
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-0599
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: yel@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nwt

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-8604
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: halifax@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/ns

Nunavut Contact(s):
Canada-Nunavut Business Service Centre
Inuksugait Plaza
P.O. Box 1000, Station 1198
Iqaluit, Nunavut  X0A 0H0
Telephone: (867) 975-7860
Fax: (867) 975-7885 Toll Free (in Nunavut only) / Sans frais 1-877-499-5299 (au Nunavut seulement)
Toll-free (information): 1-877-499-5199
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cnbsc@gov.nu.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nunavut

Ontario Contact(s):
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC)
Toronto, Ontario  M5C 2W7
Telephone: (416) 775-3456
Fax: (416) 954-8597
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-2345 (in Ontario)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: ontario@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cobsc.org/en

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Canada / PEI Business Service Centre
75 Fitzroy Street
P.O. Box 40
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island  C1A 7K2
Telephone: (902) 368-0771
Fax: (902) 566-7377
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in the Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: pei@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/pe
Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Quebec Contact(s):
Info entrepreneurs
380 St-Antoine Street West, local 6000
Montréal, Quebec  H2Y 3X7
Telephone: 514 496-4636
Fax: 514 496-5934 Toll Free / Sans frais 1 888 417-0442
Toll-free (information): 1-800-322-4636
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: infoentrepreneurs@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.infoentrepreneurs.org
Hours of operation:
Regulars Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Summer Hours: (from June 25 to Labour Day) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Documentation Centre (Library) Hours for On-Site Research: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
business infosource
Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre
#2 - 345 Third Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7K 1M6
Telephone: (306) 956-2323
Fax: (306) 956-2328
Toll-free (information): 1-800-667-4374 (Anywhere in Canada)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466 (Anywhere in Canada)
E-mail: saskatchewan@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/sask

Yukon Contact(s):
Canada-Yukon Business Service Centre
Suite 101
307 Jarvis Street
Whitehorse, Yukon  Y1A 2H3
Telephone: (867) 633-6257
Fax: (867) 667-2001
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-0543
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: yukon@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/yukon