Integrity and reliability of your public corporate information

Public corporate information of federal business corporations serves as a central information hub for third parties, including investors, financial institutions, and government agencies. This information plays a key role to help them make timely and informed decisions about federal corporations.

Corporations Canada is committed to preserving the reliability and integrity of corporate information. On your end, you must regularly make sure that this information is accurate and up to date so that third parties do not rely on incorrect information.

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Ensure the integrity and reliability of your public corporate information

Regularly check your information

It is your responsibility to keep your public corporate information up to date with Corporations Canada.

  1. Check your information regularly by looking up your corporation in the Search for a Federal Corporation online tool. If the information is not up to date or is incorrect, it is in everyone's interests to correct it as soon as possible.
  2. Update your public corporate information, as needed, by visiting the Online Filing Centre. The Keep your corporation in good shape page will show you how to proceed.

Stay alert

  1. Subscribe to the corporate filing notices. These notices inform you about any changes made to the public corporate information of your corporation. For example: directors, registered office address, name or status filed with Corporations Canada.
  2. Check out our alerts. You can subscribe to these and receive them directly in your email inbox.

Properly manage your corporation key

Your corporation key allows you to change your business's corporate information with Corporations Canada.

  1. We suggest that you request a new key when you change the individual authorized to file in your corporation's name.
  2. In case of a lost or stolen key:
    • Apply for a new one.
    • Immediately check your public corporate information.

What to do if your information is incorrect

If your corporation's public corporate information contains incorrect information:

  1. It is in your business's interests that you take the necessary steps to correct this information as soon as possible, as third parties may rely on incorrect information.
  2. If you think there is a problem with your public corporate information, please advise us immediately. When you contact us, make sure you provide sufficient information so that Corporations Canada can evaluate the merits of your case, including, but not limited to:
    1. the corporation's name and number
    2. the name and contact information of the contact person
    3. a description of the facts and circumstances.
    Corporations Canada will consider your case and inform you of next steps, when appropriate.
  3. If you believe you are the victim of a stolen corporation key, contact us.

What Corporations Canada is doing with respect to cybersecurity

Corporations Canada's work is part of the federal government's efforts to fight fraud. As a keeper of information on federally incorporated businesses, Corporations Canada takes the necessary steps to safeguard the reliability and integrity of the database that hosts this information.

Corporations Canada's monitoring efforts are ongoing and complex. Protection systems are routinely updated to respond to constantly changing cybersecurity requirements.

The following measures are in place:

Corporations Canada regularly contacts federally incorporated businesses to remind them of the importance of checking their corporate information to ensure it is up to date and accurate. It recommends that they take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity and reliability of their public corporate information.

Automatic corporate filing notices help federal corporations monitor their own information. This way, they can report discrepancies more effectively to Corporations Canada.

Subscribe to corporate filing notices

Identity management

For Corporations Canada, the security of your information is top of mind, at all times. Learn more about identity and access management at Corporations Canada and ISED.

Has your business been the target of a scam, fraud or cybercrime?

Various economies around the world have made a digital shift that is transforming the ways of doing business. Cybersecurity has therefore become a global issue that is an increasing cause for concern. Businesses and those that operate them must be vigilant to avoid becoming the target of scams, fraud or cybercrimes that can come in many forms.

Examples of fraudulent activities

  • Telemarketing scams
  • Employment fraud
  • Phishing schemes
  • Identity theft
  • Commercial piracy to imitate a legitimate business
  • Multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes
  • Misleading advertising
  • Unfair and deceptive trade practices

What to do in case of fraudulent activities against your federal corporation

  1. First, contact your local police.
  2. Send a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

What to do if you are aware of fraudulent activities involving a federal corporation other than your own?

Report any suspicious activity, whether a scam, a fraud or a cybercrime, to your local police.

Corporations Canada's responsibilities

Corporations Canada's mandate is twofold:

Administer federal corporate laws.

 

Maintain a database of federally incorporated businesses.

What Corporations Canada does not do:

  • Provide loan guarantees
  • Validate agreements and contracts between businesses, third parties, etc.
  • Provide bonds for third-party activities
  • Promote businesses and private organizations

Resources outside of Corporations Canada