Project Overview

About the SBN Project

• The SBN Project represents a first step in establishing a more seamless and streamlined way of delivering services to businesses in British Columbia, online and through other appropriate service delivery channels. This project provides businesses with a single identifying number, and a single window through which information can be simultaneously registered with multiple levels of government.

• The SBN Project lays the groundwork for service delivery spanning the full spectrum of business-government interactions. This will be accomplished by developing a common numbering system for business accounts, a connectivity framework, an Internet-based service channel and a multi-agency partnership involving three levels of government. The services to be delivered range from initial business registration through self-service updates and maintenance of basic records to (eventual) full reporting and remittance processing.

• This project, which demonstrates the benefits of harmonizing service delivery among the various levels of government, will result in less red tape for British Columbia businesses, reduced administrative costs for business and government alike, and increased efficiency and improved customer service. It will also promote voluntary compliance with the law through the innovative use of technology.

• The federal Business Number is used as a common business identifier in selected programs in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.  Manitoba is currently developing a common business identifier project using the federal Business Number.

• Canada Customs and Revenue Agency is in discussion with several other provinces about adopting the federal Business Number as a common business identifier.

Anticipated benefits

    For business:

• Improved customer service with less red tape and single-window access to government transactions;

• Simplified on line registration that lets users know about requirements as they register; and

• Government services grouped together logically and according to business needs.

    For government:

• Greater government efficiency through partnerships that serve common clients;

• Increased compliance with government policies and procedures - which will increase government revenues and consumer protection while leveling the playing field for all British Columbia businesses; and

• Reduced data collection and keying errors through customer self-service.
   

Project Partners

The SBN Project is a multi-partner project, with representation from both the federal and provincial governments.

Business Partners

    First Phase Implementation:

• Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA)

• Consumer Taxation Branch (CTB), Ministry of Provincial Revenue

• Corporate & Personal Property Registries, Ministry of Finance

• Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia (WCB)

    Second Phase Implementation:

• Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB), Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

• Consumer Services Division (CSD), Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Developmental Partners

• Chief Information Office, Ministry of Management Services

• Common IT Services, Ministry of Management Services

Additional Funding Partners

• Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development

• Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

About the Business Number

Example of Business Number program account: 81234 5479 RT 0001

The Business Number program account has 15 characters with the following break down:

1. the first nine numbers identify the business;

2. the next two letters identify the federal or provincial program (for example, RT identifies CCRA’s goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST); and

3. the last four numbers designate a specific account number (for example, a company may have a number of different GST/HST accounts, which would be shown as 0001,0002, etc.).

Major Project Components

In order to further integrate the diverse systems supporting the partners’ many programs, the functional model incorporates the BC Business Number (BCBN) Hub, a data conversion stream and an Integrated Business Registration System.

BC Business Number (BCBN) Hub 

The BCBN Hub will operate as a message center and offers a means of communication between and among various programs.

The business information to be retained in the BCBN Hub

• Will include common business information such as BN program account number, business name and business address; and, for incorporated companies, publicly available business information.

• Will not include contact-related information such as business contact/owner name, title, and contact information.

Conversion
The assignment of a BN program account number to each in-scope program account, including the creation of a new BN for those clients that have not previously had one assigned by CCRA.

OneStop Integrated Business Registration System 
OneStop will provide a means for most businesses to complete registration requests and undertake basic account maintenance for multiple-partner programs.

The BCBN Hub and Registration System will be designed, implemented and operated in conformance with provincial freedom of information, privacy, and program area legislation.

Target Implementation Date
The SBN will be phased-in through Fall 2003/Winter 2004.