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
This a a reproduction copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and that the reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.