New West Partnership Trade Agreement

The New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) is an economic partnership between the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan that creates an interprovincial free trade zone. Manitoba joined NWPTA on January 1, 2020.

One of the benefits of the agreement is it streamlines the regulatory requirements to start and operate a business and eliminates the need to file multiple registrations and reports between the four provinces.

Business Entities Covered Under NWPTA

  • Cooperatives
  • Corporations (Companies)
  • Limited Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships

Note: There are currently no requirements to register sole proprietorships or general partnerships doing business extraprovincially (in provinces other than your home province). However, you are required to obtain the necessary licenses and permits as required by local governments in their jurisdictions.

Use an Attorney

The New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) requires you to use the services of an attorney in the extended provinces to act as your representative. An attorney for service must be established in order to receive notices in that province. The address of the attorney for service must be in the same jurisdiction as the extraprovincial registration request.

Information for B.C. Entities

Doing Business in Manitoba

B.C. corporations (companies) that need to register or update information as an extraprovincial entity in Manitoba under NWPTA must complete their extraprovincial registrations through the Manitoba Registrar at https://companiesoffice.gov.mb.ca/.

Doing Business in Alberta/Saskatchewan

Online Service

B.C. corporations (companies) that need to register or update information as an extraprovincial entity in Alberta or Saskatchewan under NWPTA can complete most of their filings electronically through Name Request Online and Corporate Online.

Name Request Online - use this application to:

  • reserve a company name in B.C.
  • request a NUANS search for Alberta
  • request a name search for Saskatchewan

Note: Alberta and Saskatchewan requests need to be made in conjunction with a B.C. name request.

Corporate Online - NWPTA transactions for companies are conveniently grouped under the Corporate Online Services menu.

Find out how to register and update records under NWPTA.

Note: If you have not been directed to this web page by a formal notice or by staff at BC Registries and Online Services, contact the Registry office to determine if you are following the correct steps for registration or for submitting other filings in Alberta and/or Saskatchewan under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement.

Information for Alberta and Saskatchewan Entities

Any registrations and updates to records that need to be filed with BC Registries will be facilitated by your home registry office. Please contact them for information and forms.

Note: The B.C. Business Corporations Act requires corporations based in Alberta and Saskatchewan to register as an extraprovincial company within two months after beginning to carry on business in B.C.

Information for Manitoba Entities

Forms can be found here for registrations and updates to records that need to be filed with BC Registries