Bilingual Form and Bilingualization of Articles
Policy Statement 2.1
June 8, 2005
When filing articles (such as Articles of Incorporation under the Canada Business Corporations Act), three linguistic options are available to applicants. Articles may be filed:
- in a format that uses either official language (i.e., in French or in English);
- in a format that employs both English and French; or
- in a fully bilingual format, utilizing both official languages equally.
This means that Form 1 may be submitted:
- in either official language, with the attached schedule(s) in the same language.
- in either official language, with the attached schedule(s) in the other or both official languages.
- in both official languages, with the attached schedule(s) in both official languages.
Note that when a corporate name is being changed to
include the name in the other official language, Articles of Amendment must be
filed to effect the change. The same linguistic options outlined in the above
examples relating to Form 1 are available when filing Articles of
Amendment.
In keeping with this policy, applicants wishing to revise their corporate charter by making the articles and schedule(s) available in both official languages may file Restated Articles (Section 180 of the CBCA) at any time. However, if other amendments have already been made to the original Articles of Incorporation, care should be taken to ensure that any amendment(s) is(are) consolidated in the bilingual Restated Articles.