Ontario. Companies Branch

• Companies Branch

• Ontario. Companies Division

• Ontario. Companies Office

• Ontario. Company Incorporations

The Companies Branch came into existence in 1950 within the Department of the Provincial Secretary although the functions carried out by the branch have existed in Ontario since before Confederation. Prior to 1950, responsibility for the registration of companies was carried out under the supervision of the Deputy Provincial Secretary although references to a "Companies Branch", "Companies Office" and "Company Incorporations" are noted in a variety of sources.

In 1969, the Companies Branch moved from the Department of the Provincial Secretary and Citizenship to the Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs.

When the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations was created in 1972, the Companies Branch became the Companies Division within the ministry although its functions did not change. At various times between 1973 and 1983 there were a total of five branches that were subordinate to the Companies Division: the Co-Operative Services Branch, Operations Branch, Administration Branch, Company Services Branch and the Company Law Branch.

In 1983, the Companies Division again became known as the Companies Branch and in 1986 it became part of the Registration Division. In 1994, the Companies Branch was transferred to the Business Division.

The Companies Branch is responsible for the registration and licensing of companies in Ontario. In particular, the branch registers sole proprietorships, partnerships, business and name styles, and is responsible for the incorporation of all Ontario corporations, for licensing extra-provincial corporations to conduct business in Ontario, and for issuing licences in mortmain.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Directory and Guide to Services of the Ontario Government, 1949-1967; Annual Reports of the Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs, 1967-1969; Government of Ontario Telephone Directories; KWIC Indexes.

Heading for Companies Division (1983) and Companies Branch (1983 only) found in Canadian Authorities (12-24-1996).

Archivist(s):
Marg McIntyre