Doing business

Canada

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Setting up a company | FDI in figures | Why you should choose to invest | Procedures relative to foreign investment | Finding assistance for further information

Setting up a company

Types of companies and capital (max/min)	Number of partners/shareholders and liability
One man business. No minimum capital.	1 person. Liable for all debts and obligations.
Partnership Personal investment	2 persons or more Personally liable for all the debts and obligations of the company.
Limited liability partnership Personal investment	2 persons and more Unlimited for general partners and limited for limited partners
A Corporation is a private joint-stock company identified by Ltd or Inc or Co. Public or Private. No minimum capital	One or more Limited to share capital for all shareholders
State owned company, the shares are public No minimum capital.	Investing partners Limited liability. Not liable for the debts, obligations or acts of the company..
Private company majority of shareholders Canadian No minimum capital.	No minimum. Limited liability. Not liable for the debts, obligations or acts of the company. Cannot sell shares or securities to the general public.
Cooperative No minimum capital.	Managed by members Limited liability.
Limited partnership No minimum	persons financially involved The liability of the silent partner to the company and creditors is limited to the amount of capital he invested.

Business setup procedures

Setting up a company	Canada	OECD
Procedures (number)	1.0	5.6
Time (days)	5.0	13.8

Source: Doing Business.

For further information: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Canada.
Canada Business
The competent organization: Registering a company can be done through the office of a notary or a lawyer. Each province has a provincial or regional office to make registering easier. Numbered companies are registered within 10 days. In Quebec this is the department of the Enterprise Registrar.

FDI in figures

Foreign Direct Investment	2008	2009	2010
FDI inward flow (millions USD)	55,270	21,406	23,413
FDI stock (millions USD)	441,638.1	523,197.0	561,111.0
Performance Index*, ranking on 141 economies	73	100	-
Potential Index**, ranking on 141 economies	11	-	-
Number of Greenfield investments***	215	254	-
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF****)	16.2	21.7	-
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	29.5	39.3	-

Source:

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk. *** Green field investments are a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. **** Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) measures the value of additions to fixed assets purchased by business, government and households less disposals of fixed assets sold off or scrapped.

Why you should choose to invest Canada

Strong points

Canada's main advantages are a qualified workforce and an easy access to raw materials. It is one of the most dynamic economies in the world, with a market of 30 million consumers and sophisticated infrastructures, as well as a very modern transportation network.

Weak points

Canada's weak points are its excessive dependance to the United States and a currently damaged financial system.

Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI

Canada applies a high taxation rate on companies. It is currently the country that applies the lowest payroll taxes in the G7 countries.
Companies establishing their headquarters in Canada get tax benefits, higher than those offered in the United States. In addition, the government announced a euro 24.6 billion two-year recovery plan.

Bilateral investment conventions signed by Canada

On 1 June 2007, Canada had signed bilateral agreements with more than 25 countries. See the list of the countries.
To see the conventions, click here.
Canada is a signatory to agreements and arrangements with more than 70 bilateral partners in the aviation sector.

It has concluded FTAs with the United States and Mexico (NAFTA), as well as with Chile, Israel, Costa Rica in July 2007 and Panama in August 2009 (elimination of tariffs in sectors of industry, agriculture, forestry and fishing).

Canada, Peru and the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) signed a free trade agreement on 26 January 2008 at Davos, in Switzerland.

Procedures relative to foreign investment

Freedom of establishment: Yes, on condition that the company follows the directives required by the Canadian government.

Foreign investment is subject to the Investment Canada Act.
Acquisition of holdings: Possible on condition of observing the in-depth procedure of examination of the project.
Obligation to declare: The foreign investment promotion bureau in the country gives information about the necessary authorizations for setting up a company. Canada is in the first rank of OECD countries as regards the low number of procedures (2) and the shortest time limit (3 days) imposed for setting up an industrial or commercial company. A foreign company can set up in Canada by creating a distinct legal entity or a subsidiary under Canadian federal law or a provincial law governing companies. A subsidiary is treated in the same way as a branch office. It must have a commercial permit or be registered with the province where it does business.
Competent organization for the declaration: Investment Canada
Citizenship and immigration Canada - Guide 4000
Requests for specific authorizations: There are particular restrictions in the communications and transport sectors. All requests must be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For further information, see investment laws in Canada.

Finding assistance for further information

Investment aid agency: Business Development Bank of Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Invest in Canada
Other useful resources: Investissement Québec (Investment Quebec)
Ontario Immigration - doing business
Manitoba Trade and Investment
Investment in the community support programs
Invest in Alberta
Invest in British Columbia
Invest in New Brunswick
Invest in Nova Scotia
Invest in Prince Edward Island
Invest in Newfoundland and Labrador