Administrative Burden Baseline: Update 2023

The Administrative Burden Baseline (ABB) provides Canadians with a clear metric on the total number of requirements in federal regulations and associated forms that impose administrative burden on business. This baseline contributes to the openness and transparency of the federal regulatory system.

In 2023, the department’s overall ABB count was 3670, representing an increase of 88 regulatory requirements from the 2022 count of 3582. The changes are attributed to:

  • An increase of 8 under Radiocommunication Regulations related to two changes to their electronic filing system for certification and registration
  • An increase of 90 under Canada Small Business Financing Regulations due to a significant expansion of the Canada Small Business Financing Program, implemented in July 2022 pursuant to Budget 2021. This included a new line of credit product and new loan classes for the term product loan, which required the development of a new registration form and a new claim submission form.
  • An increase of 11 under International Submarine Cable Licences Regulations from 0 in 2022 to 11 in 2023. This figure was adjusted from 2014 as it was erroneously omitted from the initial baseline counting exercise.
  • A decrease of 9 in the Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 due to having new amendments come into force that removed the regulatory requirement for an annual return to be sent to the Director within 60 days after the corporation’s anniversary date,  and removed the reference to the associated annual return form.
  • A decrease of 4 in the Canada Cooperatives Regulations due to having amendments come into force that removed the regulatory requirements for a cover letter, and certain information such as signature requirements.
  • A decrease of 8 in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules due to entry errors being identified in the previous year’s count exercise.

Since 2014, ISED has decreased its ABB count by 170 from the initial count of 3,840.

The data for previous years is available below.

Administrative Burden Baseline – 2023
Title of regulation SOR Number 2023 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 536
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 4
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 4
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 351
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
International Submarine Cable Licences Regulations 98-488 11
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 354
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trademarks Regulations SOR/2018-227 83
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/2018-120 84
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules C. 368 599
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations SOR/89-158 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations c.C-36 155
Department Count 3,670
Administrative Burden Baseline – 2022
Title of regulation SOR Number 2022 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 528
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 261
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 354
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trademarks Regulations SOR/2018-227 83
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/2018-120 84
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules C. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations SOR/89-158 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations c.C-36 155
Department Count 3,582
Administrative Burden Baseline – 2021
Title of regulation SOR Number 2021 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 528
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 261
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 354
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trademarks Regulations SOR/2018-227 83
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/2018-120 84
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules C. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations SOR/89-158 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations c.C-36 155
Department Count 3,582
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2020
Title of regulation SOR Number 2020 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 513
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 307
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 364
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations SOR/2018-227 98
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/2018-120 84
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 3,638
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2019
Title of regulation SOR Number 2019 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 513
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 307
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations SOR/2018-227 98
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/2018-120 84
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 3,634
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2018
Title of regulation SOR Number 2018 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 509
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 307
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 115
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 62
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations 2017-165 23
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations 96-195 72
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/99-460 40
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 3,560
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2017
Title of regulation SOR Number 2017 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 473
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 307
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 116
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 37
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations 96-195 72
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/99-460 40
Timber Marking Rules C.R.C., c. 1552 25
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 3,500
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2016
Title of regulation SOR Number 2016 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 473
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 305
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 116
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 37
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations 96-195 72
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/99-460 40
Timber Marking Rules C.R.C., c. 1552 25
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 3,500
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2015
Title of regulation SOR Number 2015 Count
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 699
Telecommunications Apparatus Regulations 2001-522 348
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 305
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 116
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 37
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 378
Canadian Intellectual Property Office ( CIPO )
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations 96-195 72
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/99-460 40
Timber Marking Rules C.R.C., c. 1552 25
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 173
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 186
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
Department Count 4,074
Administrative Burden Baseline — 2014
Title of regulation SOR Number 2014 Count
Industry Canada
Radiocommunication Regulations 96-484 731
Telecommunications Apparatus Regulations 2001-522 376
Canada Business Corporations Regulations, 2001 2001-512 13
Canada Cooperatives Regulations 99-256 8
Canada Small Business Financing Regulations 99-141 305
Use of Patented Products for International Humanitarian Purposes Regulations 2005-143 116
Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations 93-133 37
Investment Canada Regulations 85-611 107
Canadian Intellectual Property Office ( CIPO )
Integrated Circuit Topography Regulations 93-212 27
Patent Rules 96-423 360
Public Servants Inventions Regulations C.R.C., c. 1332 44
Trade-marks Regulations 96-195 72
Industrial Design Regulations SOR/99-460 41
Timber Marking Rules C.R.C., c. 1552 25
Competition Bureau
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations c. 417 16
Notifiable Transactions Regulations 87-348 392
Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations c. 1551 36
Measurement Canada
Weights and Measures Regulations 2014-111 161
Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations 2014-113 174
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules c. 368 607
Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations c. 369 37
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Regulations SOR/2009-219 155
ABB Count for Industry Canada 3,840

Contact information:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Sinthuram Shanmuganandapala
Email: sinthuram.shanmuganandapala@ised-isde.gc.ca

Competition Bureau
Steven Campbell
Telephone: 506-440-3166
Email: steven.campbell@cb-bc.gc.ca

Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Shawn Tippins
Telephone: 613-854-7639
Email: shawn.tippins2@ised-isde.gc.ca

Measurement Canada
Kelly Senkiw
Telephone: 613-558-0533
Email: Kelly.Senkiw2@ised-isde.gc.ca

Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy
Sheila Westerink Robin
Telephone: 613-868-0244
Email: sheila.westerinkrobin@canada.ca

For more information:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.