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Contacts For Starting a Business
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT - The Government of Canada
Federal Government Web Site: www.canada.gc.ca
Elgin-Middlesex-London
Member of Parliament (M.P.)
Joe Preston, MP
Constituency Office
2-24 First Avenue
St. Thomas, ON N5R 4M5
E-mail: joe@joepreston.ca
637-2255 or 1-800-404-0406 Fax: 637-3358
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
General
Enquiries:
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC)
1-800-567-2345
This telephone service is operated jointly between the federal and provincial
governments as a “first point of access” for general information on
all types of business-related government programs and services.
Reference
Canada
1-800-667-3355 or 1-800-O CANADA (1-800-622-6232)
This telephone reference service offers referrals to all programs and
services offered by the Government of Canada.
Goods
& Services Tax - Registration and Information:
Canada Revenue Agency (CCRA)
London Tax Services Office
451 Talbot Street
London, ON N6A 4R3
General Information: 1-800-959-8281
Business Inquiries: 1-800-959-5525
Business Forms (Order Centre): 1-800-959-2221
New Employer's Kit: 1-800-959-5525
(Fax) (519) 645-4029
WebSite: www.cra.gc.ca
or www.ccra.gc.ca/tips
Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Mid Feb to April 30)
8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (May 1 to mid Feb)
Canada Border Services Agency
2724 Roxburgh Road, Unit 2
London, ON N6N 1K9
General Inquiries: 1-800-461-9999
Fax: (519)681-3486
Web Site: www.cbsa.gc.ca
Income
Tax & Payroll Deductions, Canada Pension, Employment Insurance,
etc.:
Canada
Revenue Agency (CRA)
London Tax Services Office
451 Talbot Street
London, ON N6A 4R3
General Information: 1-800-959-8281
Business Inquiries: 1-800-959-5525
Business Forms (Order Centre): 1-800-959-2221
New Employer's Kit: 1-800-959-5525
(Fax) (519) 645-4029
WebSite: www.cra.gc.ca
or www.ccra.gc.ca/tips
Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Mid Feb to April 30)
8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (May 1 to mid Feb)
Health
& Safety Standards
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA – ACIA)
1200 Commissioners Road East, Unit 19
London, ON N5Z 4R3
691-1300 FAX: 691-1314
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Web Site: www.inspection.gc.ca
Communications Licenses (Radio): Spectrum Management
(Central & Western Ontario District)
451 Talbot Street, Suite 1112 London, ON N6A 5C9 Direct to London: spectrum.london@ic.gc.ca
457-4826 (This number connects to Industry Canada)
Fax: 645-5073
Web Site: www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/spectrum
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m
Competition
Bureau (Regional Office)
151 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 2W7
(819) 997-4282 Toll Free: 1-800-348-5358 FAX
:( 819) – 997-0324
Hearing Impaired: 1-800-642-3844
Web Site: www.competition.ic.gc.ca
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday to Friday, Eastern
Time)
Mail
Pickup & Delivery: Canada Post Corporation 403 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1B0
631-0950 FAX: 631-5645
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
Market Data, Census Information, etc.:
Statistics Canada – Advisory Service
Arthur Meighen Building
25 St. Clair Avenue East, 10th Floor Toronto, ON M4T 1M4 User Advisory
Service & Publications Orders 1-800-263-1136 (Main Inquires)
Web Site: www.statcan.ca
Email: infostats@statcan.ca
Weights
& Measures Accreditation:
Measurement
Canada
Federal Bldg., 3rd Floor
78 Meg Drive – 3rd floor
London ON N6E-3T6
Attention: Mike Rogers
District Manager, London
680-7365 FAX: 680-7759
E-mail: rogers.mike@ic.qc.ca
Web Site: www.mc.ic.gc.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Imports/Exports:
Customs
Border Services Agency – Custom Border Services
London Inland Operations
2724 Roxburgh Road. Unit 2
London, ON N6N 1K9
681-3100 FAX: 681-3486
Canada Customs St. Thomas c/o Buckland Customs Brokers Limited 73 Gaylord
Road St. Thomas, ON N5P 3R9 631-4944, FAX: 633-8038
Hours: 24 hours
Website: www.bucklandcustoms.com
Employee Hiring/Local Labor Market Information:
Human
Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
Human Resource Centre
408 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 3V6
631-5470, FAX: 631-3565
Website: www.hrsdc.gc.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT - The Government of Ontario
Ontario Government Web Site: www.gov.on.ca
Member
of Provincial Parliament (M.P.P.): Hon. Steve Peters, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London
Minister of Agriculture
Constituency Office 542 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1C4
631-0666, FAX: 631-9478
Web Site: www.stevepeters.com
Email: speters.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Ontario
Government Information Centre
London Region Office
659 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
519-873-4000 FAX: 519-873-4016
Toll-free 1-800-267-8097
Website: www.gov.on.ca
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Business Registration Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This location is operated by the Ontario Government to provide information
and service concerning all provincial programs plus application forms
and related information.
General
Business-related Enquiries:
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC)
1-800-567-2345
This telephone service is operated jointly between the federal and provincial
governments as a “first point of access” for general information on
all types of business-related government programs and services.
Business Registration is a responsibility of the Ontario Ministry of
Consumer and Business Services.
Ontario
Ministry of Consumer and Business Services
393 University Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5G 1E6
1-800-361-3223 or Ontario Business Connects Help Line 1-800-565-1921
FAX: (416)314-4852 Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
TTY: (416)212-1476 (speech/hearing impaired)
Website: www.cbs.gov.on.ca
Business
Registrations, Vendors’ Permits, Retail Sales Tax Info, Purchase Exemption
Certificates, etc.:
Business Registrations
and Vendor Permits may be processed on line or at either of two OBRA
(Ontario Business Registration Access) terminals in London (659 Exeter
Road or 130 Dufferin Avenue) at the same time. There are no OBRA terminals
in St. Thomas/Elgin County at this time.
Government
of Ontario Information Centre
London Region Office
659 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
873-4000 FAX: 519-873-4016
Toll Free: 1-800-267-8097
Website: www.gov.on.ca
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Hours for Business Registrations: 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Ontario
Ministry of Finance
London Regional Tax Office
130 Dufferin Ave., Unit 400
London, ON N6A 6G8
433-3901 FAX: (519)661-6618
General Inquiries: 1-800-265-1540
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Environmental
Information & Approvals:
Ontario
Ministry of Environment & Energy
733 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
873-5000 FAX: 873-5020
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: www.ene.gov.on.ca
Ontario Economic Development Services:
Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade
Southwestern Region
659 Exeter Road, 2nd Floor
London, ON N6E 1L3
873-4480
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Web Site: www.ontario-Canada.com
Rural/Agricultural
business matters:
Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture & Food (Windsor District)
667 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
Phone: 873-4070 Fax: 873-4062
Website: www.omaf.gov.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Employer Health Tax/OHIP:
Ontario
Ministry of Finance – Tax Office
Employer Health Tax
215 Eugenie Street West
Windsor, ON N8X 2X7
1-800-465-4021
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
Transportation & Vehicle Licenses:
Ontario
Ministry of Transportation
659 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
General Inquiries: 1-800-268-4686
General Inquiries: 1-800-265-6072 (London Regional
Office)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: www.mto.gov.on
Motor
Vehicle License Issuing Agent (private contractor)
5 - 41 Mondamin Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V4
633-6322
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday
Employment
Standards/Occupational Health & Safety Regulations:
Ontario
Ministry of Labour
217 York Street, 5th Floor
London, ON N6A 5P9
439-2210 FAX 672-0268
Employment Standards Information Centre: 1-800-531-5551
Occupational Health and Safety Inquiries: 1-800-268-8013
(To pick up forms and/or submit claims visit or fax the above office
or go on line) Website: www.gov.on.ca/lab/english/es
Workplace
Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB)
148 Fullarton Street – 7th Floor
London, ON N6A 5P3
663-2331 Fax: 663-2333
General Inquiries 1-800-265-4752
Office of the Employer Advisory: 1-800-387-0774
Website: www.wsib.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT - Our Local Government
All cities, towns,
villages, counties and townships administer or control many functions
relating to business. 90% of all legislation affecting business originates
with the Ontario government but administration of much of this legislation
has been assigned to municipal governments.
Included under municipal government control are such things as: Building
Permits, Zoning, Sewage/Drainage, Fire Protection, Public Health, Property
Tax, Sign Permits, Business Licenses, some aspects of waste disposal,
etc. Generally speaking, contact should be made to the Clerk's Office
(City Hall) in each municipality or jurisdiction in which you plan to
conduct business to check on individual requirements.
City
of St. Thomas
City Hall
P. O. Box 520, 545 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 3V7
631-1680, Fax 633-9019
Email: clerk@city.st-thomas.on.ca
Website: www.city.st-thomas.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Contacts: Wendell Graves, City Clerk
John Dewancker, Director of Engineering & Public Works
Bob Wheeler, Manager, Economic Development
Pat Keenan, Director of Planning
County of Elgin
Administration Offices
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
631-1460, Fax 633-7661
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Contact: Mark McDonald, Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO)
Municipality
of Central Elgin
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
631-4860, Fax: 631-4036
Contact: Don Leitch, Clerk
Website: www.elgin-county.ca
Southwold
Township
35663 Fingal Line
Fingal, ON N0L 1K0
769-2010, Fax 769-2837
Contact: Dianne Caryn, Chief Administrator
Malahide
Township
87 John Street South
Aylmer, ON N5H 2C3
773-5344, Fax 773-5334
Contact: Randy Millard, Clerk
GENERAL INFORMATION Accounting/Tax Information - contact
a professional accountant Bonding - contact your insurance agent or
broker Insurance - contact your agent or broker Incorporation/Legal
Matters - contact your attorney
The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce will provide referrals,
free of charge, to registered local businesses, services and professionals,
which work to assist or serve new and/or existing businesses.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
St. Thomas and Elgin County are served by a number of agencies, which,
in part, function as resources to the business community. In many cases
there is no charge for services offered!
St.
Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce
555 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1C5
631-1981, Fax 631-0466 E-mail: mail@stthomaschamber.on.ca
Web Site: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
24-hour telephone message center available 7 days per week
Information on Chamber programs and services plus an on-line business
directory may be found at the Chamber's web site.
St.
Thomas Public Library
153 Curtis Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 3Z7
631-6050, Fax 631-1987
E-mail: stpl@elgin.net
Web Site: www.st.thomas.library.on.ca
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Elgin
County Library
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1
631-1460 FAX: 631-9209
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Elgin
Community Futures Development Corporation (ECFDC)
300 South Edgeware Road
St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1
633-7597, Fax 633-5070
E-mail: admin@elgincfdc.on.ca
Web Site: www.elgincfdc.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Elgin
- St. Thomas Health Unit
99 Edward Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1Y8
631-9900, Fax 633-0468
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Email: esthu@elginhealth.on.ca
Web Site: www.elginhealth.on.ca
Employment
Services Elgin
408 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1B8
633-5200 FAX: 633-5854
Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Email: jeinfo@jobselgin.ca
Website: www.jobselgin.ca
Branch
locations:
25 Centre Street
Aylmer, ON N5H 2Z4
765-2082 FAX: 765-2280
Email: jeinfo@jobselgin.ca
Website: www.jobselgin.ca
Hours: 9 a.m. – to 4:30p.m.(Until 7 pm. On Tuesday’s)
160 Main Street
West Lorne, ON N0L 2P0
768-0020 FAX: 768-0401
Email: jeinfo@jobselgin.ca
Website: www.jobselgin.ca
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
Elgin - St. Thomas Campus
120 Bill Martyn Parkway
St. Thomas, ON N5R 6A7
633-2030 or FAX 633-0043
Website: www.fanshawec.on.ca
St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation
City Hall
P. O. Box 520, 545 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 3V7
631-1680 Fax: 631-3441
E-mail: info@st-thomasedc.on.ca
Website: www.st.-thomasedc.on.ca
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
FACTS & POINTS WORTH KNOWING:
BUSINESS
REGISTRATION: The Ontario Business Names Act, 1990, administered
by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, requires
registration of the name of your business before business commences.
Banks also require evidence of registration before you will be allowed
to open an account in the business name. Registration may be completed
by mail or Fax to Toronto (Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business
Services) at a cost or $80.00. Allow 6 - 8 weeks to complete the process
by mail. Registrations can also be made on line at www.gov.on.ca or
at one of the two OBRA (Ontario Business Registration Access) workstations
in London at a cost of $60.00. Name searches can be conducted at the
time of registration for a cost of $8.00 per name. The OBRA workstations
(at The Ontario Government Information Centre or The Ministry of Finance)
are self-help but there is a staff available for your assistance. Registrations
may be completed electronically in approximately 10 - 20 minutes and
is payable by cash, cheque, money order or credit card. Payment by interac
is not yet an option.
VENDORS’
PERMITS: This document is often mistaken to be "approval"
of the province to conduct business. It is not. A Vendor Permit signifies
that you have opened an account with the province to collect and remit
Provincial Sales Tax. You must register for a Vendor Permit even if
your sales are small; there is no minimum. You must keep a copy of your
Vendor Permit at each business location and let anyone see it on request.
You do not require a Vendor Permit if:
• you sell only tax-exempt goods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables
at a roadside stand;
• you provide only non-taxable services, such as dry cleaning;
• you are a wholesaler or manufacturer and do not make retail sales.
When you purchase a business from someone else, you must get your own
Vendor Permit. A Vendor Permit cannot be transferred.
There is no charge to obtain this permit.
YOU MUST REGISTER FOR GST / HST IN THE FOLLOWING CASES:
• if you provide taxable, including zero-rated goods or services in
Canada in the course of carrying on business in Canada and your revenues
exceed $30,000 ($50,000 for public service bodies) in a single calendar
quarter or in four consecutive calendar quarters;
• you make taxable sales of admissions in Canada for a place of amusement,
a seminar, an activity, or an event held in Canada, even if your sales
do not exceed $30,000;
• you host a convention in Canada, and more than 25% of the delegates
are residents of Canada; or
• you solicit orders for publications to be delivered to customers by
mail or courier in Canada.
You do not have to register if you are a non-resident who sells taxable
real property located in Canada other than in the normal course of business.
PACKAGING
AND LABELING: Industry Canada, Competition Bureau sets out
the regulations and guidelines for products sold in Canada (ie. French
& English wording on labels). If you are making or importing a product
for resale in Canada it is your responsibility to see that all standards
are met.
HEALTH
& SAFETY STANDARDS: Contact the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (in London).
WORKERS
COMPENSATION: If you are hiring employees (including family
members and sub-contractors) you must register with the Workplace Safety
& Insurance Board (‘WSIB’) within 10 days of hiring your first full-
or part-time worker. You will likely be required to carry workers compensation
coverage (there are some exemptions). You may register at the WSIB (at
148 Fullarton Street, London). You will need your Employer Health Tax
number to register. This insurance coverage is paid by the employer
and is calculated as a percentage of your payroll.
EMPLOYER HEALTH TAX: If you have employees you may
be required to pay EHT (there are some exemptions). The amount is calculated
as a percentage of your total payroll. For specific information on current
EHT rates applicable to your business, please contact the Employer Health
Tax Office located at the Ministry of Finance (London Regional Tax Office).
Registration can be made at this office (with the help of staff) or
the Ontario Business Connects self-help workstation located at the Ontario
Government Information Centre (London Region). Employers who already
have an Ontario Retail Sales Tax account number (i.e. a vendor permit
number) or a Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Business Number (BN)
should provide that number when registering for EHT.
INCOME
TAX & PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS: If you have employees you are
responsible for calculation and remittance of income tax, employment
insurance and Canada Pension Plan contributions to Canada Revenue (1-800-622-6232).
Don't forget that employers are required to make contributions to both
CPP and EI.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS: Businesses dealing with storage and/or
handling of foods must submit to inspections before business begins.
Contact the Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit (99 Edward Street, St. Thomas)
to set up an appointment.
WASTE
DISPOSAL: Although basic garbage removal services are usually
provided by municipal government, and paid through property taxes, many
businesses require specialized services from private businesses. This
especially true for businesses dealing with chemical or hazardous wastes
or larger volumes of waste materials.
LEGAL
AND ACCOUNTING ADVICE: We strongly recommend contact with a
qualified accountant and/or lawyer to insure that all legal requirements
are met.
This brief summary
of information has been compiled by the St. Thomas and District Chamber
of Commerce as a community service and is distributed free of charge.
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