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Canadian Business Law/Corporations
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
The Corporation
A corporation enjoys special status in the law. Among the characteristics of the corporation include:
exists as a separate legal entity
existence is perpetual
has limited liability
control by shareholders
shares are transferable
Process of incorporation
There are three ways in which to incorporate a company in Canada.
Letters Patent A grant of a Charter from the Crown. This practice is only still used in PEI.
Memorandum of Association The rights and obligations of the corporation are determined contractually by the Articles of Association. This practice is only used in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
Statutory enactment The corporation is enacted under a Corporations Act, which can either be federal or provincial.