Responsibilities for corporations, cooperatives and organizations

Overview

Once your business or organization is incorporated, you will have to meet the responsibilities set out for your organization type below.

You will also have to periodically submit updates such as:

• annual returns
• amend notices
• change notices

Select one of the topics above to learn about your obligation to submit information to Alberta Corporate Registry.

Virtual meetings during the pandemic

Organizations can provide meeting notices, conduct meetings and hold votes using digital technology, if their bylaws do not prohibit it.

If organizations want to meet and vote in person, or if their bylaws already allow for online meeting and voting, no changes are required.

If organizations want to meet and vote electronically, but their bylaws prohibit such actions, the bylaws need to be adjusted.

Alberta corporations

Most Alberta corporations must:

• get workers' compensation insurance for their employees
• notify the Workers' Compensation Board within 15 days of hiring their first worker
• follow Occupational Health and Safety codes and Employment Standards laws
• pay Alberta income tax and federal income tax

You can do business in British Columbia or Saskatchewan under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement. You can do so at no charge once you have received your Alberta certificate of incorporation.

Out of province corporations

If your corporation is based in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan, a streamlined process is in place to help you do business in Alberta. You need to report most name changes or request cancellation of your Alberta registration through Alberta’s Online Extra-provincial Registration. There is no cost. Contact a registry office in your home jurisdiction for more information.

If you are reporting a name change, in most cases you will also need to apply and pay for an Alberta Reservation Report (NUANS report) if you do not already have one. You can purchase the report through Alberta's Online Extra-Provincial Registration or from a NUANS provider.

Note: If your corporation has changed to a number name, for example, such as 54343434 British Columbia Inc., no action is required. Your home province will report the name change to Alberta.

If your corporation is from another province or country, select one of the topics above to learn about your obligation to submit information to Alberta Corporate Registry.

Most extra-provincial corporations must:

• get workers' compensation insurance for their employees
• notify the Workers' Compensation Board within 15 days of hiring their first worker
• follow Occupational Health and Safety codes and Employment Standards laws
• pay Alberta income tax and federal income tax

Alberta cooperatives

Your cooperative must be prepared to resolve their own internal disputes, as the Director of Cooperatives does not supervise the conduct of cooperatives. Court remedies are available through the Cooperatives Act.

Select one of the topics above to learn about your obligation to submit information to the Director of Cooperatives after it is incorporated.

Your cooperative may be responsible for other business obligations as mentioned for Alberta corporations.

You can do business in British Columbia or Saskatchewan under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement. You can do so at no charge once you have received your Alberta certificate of incorporation. To register your cooperative in these provinces refer to the information under Incorporate a business or organization.

Out of province cooperatives

If your cooperative is incorporated in British Columbia or Saskatchewan, a streamlined process is in place to help you do business in Alberta. Contact Corporate Registry in your home jurisdiction for more information.

• BC Corporate Registry
• Saskatchewan Corporate Registry

If your cooperative is from another province or country, select one of the topics above to learn about your obligation to submit information to the Director of Cooperatives after it is registered.

Your cooperative may be responsible for other business obligations as mentioned for Out of province corporations.

Non-profit companies and societies

Your non-profit company or society:

• may be eligible for registration as a charity under the Income Tax Act
• may need to register if it plans to conduct any fundraising activities in Alberta
• must be prepared to resolve their own internal disputes, since Corporate Registry does not supervise the conduct of non-profit organizations or provide a counseling service
  • Corporate Registry recommends that company articles of association or society bylaws include a mediation or arbitration procedure to make sure that internal disputes are handled fairly

Select one of the topics above to learn about your obligation to submit information to Alberta Corporate Registry.

Consider whether your board members could profit from Alberta Culture's Board Development Program (BDP). The program addresses the ethical and legal responsibilities of serving on a company or society board, roles and responsibilities of board members and effective committees.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is responsible for issuing gaming licences for charitable organizations.