The Government of B.C. announced October 25 new rules to curb hidden ownership of private companies.
Finance Minister Carole James announced businesses operating in B.C. must, according to a government statement, “keep and maintain transparency records of beneficial owners, including individuals who have direct or indirect control of the company or its shares.”
The government claims hidden ownership can be used to avoid taxes and launder money – two issues under public scrutiny in the province.
“Hidden ownership is distorting our economy and driving up our real estate market,” claimed James.
Amendments to the Business Corporations Act will take place May 1, 2020.
The records will not be held in a public registry. Rather, Ministry of Finance compliance and auditing officers, as well as law enforcement officials, will have access to the registry. Information may also be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency in efforts to stop tax evasion, according to the statement.
Calls for a public registry have been made by Transparency International Canada, a non-profit advocacy group for government transparency and anti-corruption policies.
“A public registry of companies and trusts that includes beneficial ownership information would be a low-cost, high-impact way of preventing their misuse,” stated Transparency International Canada in its No Reason to Hide report.
The government noted the report from B.C.’s expert panel on money laundering in real estate report identified disclosure of beneficial ownership as the “single most important measure that can be taken to combat money laundering.”
James’ ministry is, however, creating a public registry of beneficial land ownership for real estate in B.C. The Land Owner Transparency Act is create Canada’s first such registry.
