Ontario. Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. Business Division

• Business Division

The Business Division was created in 1994, replacing the former Business Practices Division. With the exception of the lotteries section, all of the program areas of the Business Practices Division became the responsibility of the Business Division.

These programs include responsibility for consumer complaints, the regulation of collection agents, cemeteries, motor vehicle dealers, real estate agents and business brokers, the travel industry, theatres, and athletic events, as well as the registration of businesses. In addition, the Companies Branch was transferred to the Business Division, giving it responsibility for the incorporation of companies.

In 1997, responsibility for the regulation of certain industries was turned over to the private sector, and the Industry Self-Management Liaison Unit (later the Liaison Office) was created to monitor the newly created Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, Real Estate Council of Ontario, Travel Industry Council of Ontario, Technical Standards and Safety Authority, and in 1998, the Electrical Safety Authority.

The division ceased to exist in 2001 when the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations was reorganized into the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.

The Business Division, under the direction of an Assistant Deputy Minister, was responsible for the registration, licensing, and monitoring of financial and commercial affairs to promote ethical business conduct and consumer protection and safety. The division also provided services for the incorporation of companies, including fundamental changes such as dissolutions and revivals of corporations.

The division was responsible for consumer complaints, and monitored questionable business practices and consumer concerns, recommending amended or new legislation when necessary.

The division had program areas for the regulation of bailiffs, cemeteries, condominiums, debt collectors, motor vehicle dealers, paperback and periodical distributors, real estate and business brokers, and the travel industry. Later, the regulation of some of these areas was privatized, and the division moved to a liaison role.

In addition, the division was responsible for the regulation of theatres and athletic events.

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government of Ontario phonebooks, KWIC Indexes.

Archivist(s):
Pudden