The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating global economic
impact. To boost the Alberta economy and attract more business, the
Alberta Government has recently announced several measures.
A. Repealing Residency Requirement for Directors
U.S. and other foreign‑based businesses looking to
incorporate a Canadian subsidiary will have another option where
there will be no Canadian director.
On July 23, 2020, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act,
2020 (the "RTRIA"), which made
amendments to several pieces of legislation, received royal assent.
For corporations incorporated in Alberta, the Business
Corporations Act (Alberta) (the
"ABCA") previously mandated that one
quarter of corporate directors be resident in Canada. The RTRIA
amended the ABCA by repealing this requirement. While Alberta joins
other provinces and territories that do not require a Canadian
resident director, the Ontario and federal legislation, among
others, still have corporate director