Harper government and City of Winnipeg cut red tape

Ottawa, Ontario, February 10, 2013… The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, announced today that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will implement an important partnership with the City of Winnipeg to cut red tape. In early spring 2013, Winnipeg will become the first municipality to adopt the business number (BN) as a common identifier for its programs. Enhancing business number online processes is a commitment under the Harper government’s Red Tape Reduction Action Plan.

“Our government’s top priority is creating jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity. The actions we are taking through the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan allow companies to focus on what they do best, creating jobs and growing the economy,” said Minister Shea. “I am pleased that Winnipeg has decided to streamline business dealings with government. This initiative will simplify the way that businesses interact with different levels of government, reducing the burden placed on entrepreneurs.”

The BN is a common client identifier issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for businesses to simplify their dealings with federal, provincial, and municipal governments. There are no registration or maintenance fees, and no renewal process associated with the BN, because businesses keep their BN throughout their life cycle. The BN is based on the idea of one business, one number.

“Assigning one number to a business for federal, provincial, and municipal programs makes it easier for them to work with different levels of government,” said Peter Bjornson, Manitoba’s Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade. “The business number eliminates the need for a business to manage different identifiers for different programs, reducing red tape for companies. Manitoba remains committed to the concept of ‘one business, one number’, and we will continue to listen to Manitoba companies and introduce new ways of providing services to make doing business in the province even better.”

The main benefits of registration include reducing red tape, increasing government efficiency, and faster service from government. Because the BN makes it easier for businesses to interact with all levels of government, businesses spend less time resolving identity issues and re-entering business information when completing common registrations. The information shared safely and securely with other participating BN partners helps businesses reduce costs and be more competitive.

“Winnipeg is very proud to be positioned as the first municipality in Canada to adopt the business number concept,” said Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz. “This process has proven to be advantageous in other jurisdictions by making it safe, easy, and efficient for businesses to complete common registrations, and I’m confident our business community will embrace this new method.”

The BN is the main business account identifier used for an ever-increasing number of provincial programs. The CRA has forged partnerships and working relationships involving the BN with the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

For more information on BN registration, go to www.cra.gc.ca/bn.


Canada Revenue Agency

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